(The Center Square) — A financial clerk and public works supervisor used Abita Springs’ credit cards and Venmo account for thousands in personal purchases like clothes, travel, subscriptions and more.
An audit from the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office for the period Nov. 1, 2020 until May 31, 2024 noted the unusual financial activity.
According to the report, former finance clerk Stacy Ludlow worked for the town from Aug. 1, 2019 until Sept. 1, 2023. Over the course of almost her entire time with Abita Springs Ms. Ludlow made purchases of $152,165 using the town credit card. Of those, $87,227 appear to be personal in nature.
Given her financial responsibility in her role, she was able to falsify records and conceal the existence of an unapproved town credit card administered in her name.
A whopping 484 purchases to the tune of $18,654 were spent at restaurants or other food-related purchases. The highest monetary total, $21,387, was spent at pet stores and pet items spread over 355 separate instances.
Ludlow spent $20,959 on household good and electronics, $6,599 on travel, $11,598 on clothes, shoes, and accessories, $2990 on personal care, $2,451 on children’s toys, $2,101 on monthly subscriptions and $488 on late payment fees. These types of purchases were made on 1,100 separate occasions.
Furthermore, the former clerk used Venmo to divert $41,773 of public funds from Abita Springs’ account to her personal account between August 29, 2022 and September 1, 2023.
Former Public Works Supervisor Frederick Young committed similar violations of state law, using three town credit cards and a charge account at Home Depot to make $132,633 in personal purchases between November 2021 and August 2023.
Over $87,000 of the purchases were made at Home Depot and include $5,162 for two refrigerators, $2,713 for roller shades, $2,214 for an ice maker, $1,956 for a generator, $1,105 for a six-piece dining set, $1,005 for a dishwasher ,and $888 for men’s and women’s e-bikes. His supervisor stated that Young was remodeling his house during this time period.
That leaves $45,572, spent over 244 instances, for purchases made with the town’s credit card. The expense type with the highest total was vehicle-related items at over $16,000, and electronics and sports items were the second and third most commonly purchased for the former supervisor.
