Some suspicious charges on a county gas card have led to the firing of a local DeKalb County Landfill employee and charges being filed. The incident has also spurred an investigation by the State Comptroller’s Office.
According to an arrest warrant, 54-year-old Mark Randall (Truck) Robinson of Dry Creek Road, Smithville, a DeKalb County Landfill employee, has been charged with theft of property over $2,500 and fraudulent use of a credit card. He is under a $8,500 bond.
Robinson is accused of using a DeKalb County government gas card to fill his personal vehicle with gasoline on multiple occasions. The incidents occurred between the dates of June 21, 2021, and September 11, 2022, totaling $2,962.66 in funds. According to the warrant, Robinson did not have consent to use the gas card for personal use.
The case was investigated by the Smithville Police Department, and Robinson was escorted to the DeKalb County Jail by Smithville officers on Friday morning.
The case came to light after newly elected County Mayor Matt Adcock noticed some odd charges on a county card that occurred after hours. “It came to my attention on a fuel expense report that there were charges after hours. I saw that is was a little suspicious so I contacted the Smithville Police Department, and they sent over an officer and filled out a police report,” Adcock explained.
“Later, I found out through that investigation, I was notified by the Smithville Police Department that this employee was Mark Robinson,” said Adcock.
According to Adcock, Robinson allegedly used another employee’s county fuel card and PIN number. That employee had recently quit his job, leading to the suspicious red flag.
“Our county fuel cards are kept in the glove box of the (county) vehicle. Each county employee has their own PIN number that they can use for that card … That’s how we keep track which employee is making transactions on that card. The employee that was caught (Robinson) was using the PIN number from a prior employee,” Adcock explained.
“The transactions on this card were occurring after hours, and with the PIN number to a former employee. That’s how we knew something was wrong,” said County Mayor Adcock.
Adcock said that he waited until the police investigation was conducted, and after video evidence allegedly confirmed Robinson was using the card, Robinson was fired from his position.
“By state law, I had to notify the state comptroller within five days of the notice of fraud. Once I recognized that there is the possibility of fraud, I have to notify them within five days, and then they come and audit us. The State Comptroller had the same finding and will be on our annual audit report,” said Adcock.
To make sure this doesn’t happen again, my efforts are going towards making a policy for our county card use. The policy would specify that the fuel cards are to remain in the county vehicles, that the employees only use the PIN numbers assigned to them for specific vehicles, and that the mileage be recorded with each use. Those who violate such a policy would be terminated.
