Jackson, MS--Attorney General Jim Hood today confirmed the arrests of Washington County Tax Collector Patricia Lee and eight other present or former clerks in the office.  Indictments were obtained on November 20, 2007 by investigators with the Public Integrity Division of the Attorney General’s Office.  The clerks are charged are charged under Section 97- 7- 10(Fraudulent statements and representations). 

The indictment claims that , over a period of several years, those indicted would make and use fraudulent information in the issuance of car tags by placing the purchaser of the tag in a lower taxed district (usually in the county as opposed to the city), resulting in a dramatic reduction of the price of the car tag.  This
in turn dramatically reduced the revenue due the state and or city.  Those arrested are:

Diann Gooden (DOB 10-16-70), 4 counts; 15 Robinson Street, Leland, MS
Brenda Green (DOB 08-27-70), 4 counts; 876 Jefferson Drive, Greenville, MS
Patricia Lee (DOB 03-13-63), 2 counts; 700 7th Street, Leland, MS
Bennie McCain (DOB 05-15-79), 1 count; 1907 Spruce Street, Greenville, MS
Mary Jane McClain (DOB 02-25-56), 4 counts;1776 Stovall Road, Leland, MS
Patricia McDuffy (DOB 03-02-52), 3 counts; 112 North Davis Circle, Indianola, MS
Tammoral Nealon (DOB 01-10-74), 2 counts; 102 Lysbeth Drive, Greenville, MS
Deloris Trotter (DOB 01-23-57), 4 counts; 503 Martin Luther King Drive, Leland, MS
LaKeisha Washington (DOB 07-10-77), 3 counts; 564 Cypress Woods Apts., Greenville, MS

Each was taken to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.  Bond was set at $15,000.  “I appreciate the help from the Washington County Board of Supervisors and other Washington County elected officials in assisting the investigation,” said Attorney General Hood.  “We hope to have these cases resolved quickly for the benefit of all.”
The charges are merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.