The check was in the mail. Until it wasn’t.
Indianola Mayor Ken Featherstone opened a discussion this past Monday night addressing concerns regarding a significant payment issue involving a city vendor.
“We have an ongoing matter with American Tank Makers related to a sum of over $15,000 that was supposed to be allocated for maintenance around town," Featherstone said. "However, we were informed that the check may have been fraudulently washed."
American Tank Makers is the business responsible for the city's tank service maintenance.
Washing refers to the fraudulent practice of taking a check that typically has been made out and washing the information on it so that fraudsters may insert their names as the recipient.
Featherstone said that the photo of the check that was apparently fraudulently cashed appears to show where the city’s seal had been washed off of the document.
Featherstone noted that American Tank Makers never received the payment.
The issue dates back to July 2024 when the city originally mailed the check and was later alerted that the check intended for American Tank Makers had been made out again to an individual in Georgia.
Upon learning about the situation, Featherstone, along with IPD Chief Ronald Sampson, initiated an investigation.
"We conducted an investigation and spoke with representatives from American Tank Makers to understand what went wrong," the mayor continued. "Unfortunately, we have not received satisfactory answers. They indicated that this may be part of a larger issue affecting multiple transactions."
In response to these financial irregularities, the mayor confirmed that the city is exploring various options to secure its funds.
“We are looking into implementing measures to prevent such issues in the future, including enhanced oversight of our banking transactions," he said.
City Attorney Derek Hopson advised the city to contact the Mississippi State Department of Finance to see what course of action needs to be taken. Ward 1 Alderman Gary Fratesi noted that since the alleged fraud crossed state lines that the FBI needs to be contacted as well.
