Former Fayette County Schools Cheer Coach Indicted for Theft
An investigation by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office has resulted in the indictment of Jimmy Wilson, the former cheerleading coach at Fayette-Ware High School in Somerville.
Investigators determined that Wilson collected money from cheerleaders and used at least $2,546.93 for his personal use.
All of the money should have been turned over to the school; however, during an interview with investigators, the former coach admitted to using bad judgment by comingling cheer funds with his personal funds. Most of the money collected was in the form of cash.
Wilson also admitted that he didn’t provide all of the cheer attire that was ordered by the students, and he acknowledged that he does owe some money back to the school.
Although Fayette Ware High School had established procedures for safeguarding student activity funds, it failed to enforce them. This allowed Wilson to misappropriate money without the school’s prompt detection.
“It is critical that schools maintain receipts, logs, and other documentation for money that is collected,” explained Comptroller Justin P. Wilson. “By not following the appropriate guidelines and procedures, things slip through the cracks and funds that should be allocated to students go missing.”
In November 2018, Jimmy Wilson was indicted by the Fayette County Grand Jury on one count of theft over $2,500, official misconduct, and tampering with government records.
To view the investigation online, click here.
If you suspect fraud, waste or abuse of public money in Tennessee, call the Comptroller’s toll-free hotline at 800.232.5454, or file a report online at: www.comptroller.tn.gov/hotline. Follow us on twitter @TNCOT
Media contact: John Dunn, Public Information Officer, 615.401.7755 or john.dunn@cot.tn.gov
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