Ex-Anguilla clerk accused of stealing $107,000 from town

Published 11:29 am Wednesday, August 22, 2012

The former town clerk of Anguilla has been indicted for embezzlement after being accused of stealing more than $100,000.

Manika Kelly, 33, 24895 U.S. 61, was indicted Monday by the Sharkey County grand jury, according to court records that were made public Tuesday.

She is scheduled to be arraigned Sept. 13 before Circuit Judge M. James Chaney of Vicksburg. If Kelly pleads not guilty during arraignment, Chaney will set a trial date.

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It was unclear if Kelly has an attorney.

Kelly is accused of taking $107,444.67 from Anguilla’s water and sewer deposits between October 2006 and November 2011, according to the State Auditor’s Office. As town clerk, Kelly’s responsibilities included receiving and depositing fees paid to the town for water and sewer services.

Kelly served as town clerk for Anguilla from July 2001 to Feb. 7, 2012, when she was terminated, Anguilla city board attorney Allen S. Woodard said.

“At first she was suspended pending our audit review, and then she was terminated,” Woodard said.

An independent audit by Hodnett Co. of Rolling Fork initially revealed a shortage of $75,406.06 in water and sewer deposits between October 2008 and September 2011. A review by the State Auditor’s Office uncovered the additional shortage in deposits, according to court records.

Agents from the auditor’s office presented the case to the grand jury.

“I appreciate the work of District Attorney Ricky Smith in taking this case to the grand jury and indicting so expeditiously,” said State Auditor Stacey Pickering.

Kelly was arrested Monday by Sharkey County Sheriff’s Department officials and was released after posting $15,000 bail.

If convicted, Kelly faces 10 years in prison, a $10,000 fine and full restitution.

The Mississippi Delta town of Anguilla is about 45 miles north of Vicksburg on U.S. 61 and has a population of about 700 people.

The 9th Circuit Court District includes Warren, Sharkey and Issaquena counties.