Reported theft from county tax office totals nearly $70,000

ALBANY – A Dougherty County employee arrested on Wednesday is accused in the reported theft of more than $69,000 over a three-month period that involved discrepancies in 14 bank deposits during that time.

The Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office has charged Udashia Jones, 33, with 14 counts of felony theft by taking. A Dougherty County Superior Court judge denied bond for Jones during a Thursday-morning arraignment hearing.

Jones, an employee with the county’s Tax and Tag Office, is accused of stealing $69,693.40, through bank deposits posted between December 2023 and February, sheriff’s Capt. Kenneth Jordan said. That included five deposits made in December, six in January and three in February.

The sheriff’s office’s Investigations Division spent about a week looking into the case after discrepancies in bank deposits were reported to the agency, Jordan, who investigated the case along with Lt. Anthony Crimbley, said.

“It’s still ongoing,” Jordan said. “We’re still checking into other areas to ensure there’s no more (people involved) and trying to find the money.”

Jones has been employed with the county office for about five years, three of those as a supervisor, the investigator said.

“Her reason was family history, a family problem,” he said of Jones’ explanation.

The sheriff’s office did not have an attorney on record to represent Jones as of Thursday afternoon.

The Tax and Tag Department will work with the county Human Resources director in the process of terminating Jones as an employee, County Administrator Barry Brooks said.

“There will be a process we will go through,” he said. “I’ve notified our staff and thanked the sheriff for this quick investigation. I’ve thanked our finance staff for being on the ball.

“We’re disappointed it happened but pleased with the quick work of catching it.”

Brooks said that he was notified of the situation on Feb. 22, the same day the sheriff’s office began the investigation.

“When I was told it didn’t add up, I requested that they keep looking into it and notify Sheriff (Kevin) Sproul,” Brooks said.

Special Photo: DCSO