Jamestown City Recorder Indicted on Multiple Counts
An investigation by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office has resulted in the indictment of Patricia “Gail” Dishmon, the current city recorder for the City of Jamestown in Fentress County. As city recorder, Dishmon is responsible for the administration of all financial affairs of the city.
Investigators determined that Dishmon failed to pay her personal natural gas utility accounts on time. She had delinquent balances totaling $1,758.05 that were not paid until December 2021 when they came under scrutiny by the city’s financial auditors.
Dishmon failed to make payments on her primary residence account; transferred her son’s unpaid balances to an inactive account; and allowed her son’s natural gas account to go unpaid while also applying grant funding to his account to reduce the unpaid account balance.
Investigators also noted that Dishmon used questionable annual and sick leave and paid herself questionable compensation.
Based upon this investigation, in September 2022, the Fentress County Grand Jury indicted Patricia Dishmon one count of theft of services over $1,000, and one count of official misconduct.
“Our investigators noted numerous deficiencies withing the City of Jamestown’s financial and operational practices,” said Comptroller Jason Mumpower. “The city must enforce its utility disconnect policies for all accounts, follow its approved leave policies, document and create a policy for food purchases, and discontinue the use of signature stamps.”
To view the investigative report, go to tncot.cc/doireports. To view a map depicting Comptroller investigations, go to tncot.cc/mappinginvestigations.
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: tncot.cc/fraud. Follow us on twitter @TNCOT and Instagram @tncot.
Media contact: John Dunn, Director of Communications, 615.401.7755 or john.dunn@cot.tn.gov
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