Former City of Natchez employee pleads guilty to embezzlement

Key Points

• Rebekah Turner, a former clerk for the City of Natchez, pleaded guilty to embezzlement after stealing cash from city deposits.
• The 6th District Circuit Court sentenced Turner to 20 years, with 19 years suspended and five years of supervised probation.
• State Auditor Shad White reaffirmed a zero-tolerance policy regarding the theft of public funds in Mississippi.

JACKSON, Miss. — A former City of Natchez employee has been sentenced after pleading guilty to embezzling public funds, State Auditor Shad White announced Monday.

Rebekah Turner, who previously served as the city’s accounts receivables clerk, admitted to one count of embezzlement. Investigators found that Turner intercepted cash from deposits submitted to her office by various city departments, converting the taxpayer money for her own personal use.

The 6th District Circuit Court sentenced Turner to 20 years in the custody of the Department of Corrections. The court suspended 19 years of that sentence, ordering Turner to serve five years of probation. Additionally, she was ordered to pay 5,000 dollars in fines, along with associated court costs and fees.

“The State Auditor’s Office has a zero-tolerance policy for theft of taxpayer dollars,” White said in a statement. “We will continue to work with prosecutors across the state to deliver results for taxpayers.”

The State Auditor’s Office encouraged citizens to remain vigilant in the fight against public corruption. Suspected fraud can be reported to the office at any time via their website or by phone during standard business hours.