UPDATE 6 P.M.
More than $1 million of your taxpayer dollars are gone.
The Tallahassee Police Department and the United States Secret Service say they’re working on a fraud investigation to get it back.
I spent hours making phone calls and writing emails Friday trying to figure out how $1 million went missing from Tallahassee's City Hall.
Here’s what we know.
On March 28, TPD’s Financial Crimes Unit received a report from the City of Tallahassee saying more than a million dollars in city funds had been stolen from an outside source.
We also know detectives are working with the Secret Service to recover the city’s money and ensure justice is secured in this case.
The city news release we received Friday did not share any more information about where the funds stolen came from or when the city found out the money was missing.
These are questions I asked the city’s spokesperson about including:
- When did the city discover the money was missing?
- What city department did the money go missing from?
- What does an outside source mean?
I didn’t get those questions answered instead. I received an email that said:
“The City is appreciative of the diligent efforts of the Tallahassee Police Department and United States Secret Service to bring resolution to this cybercrime incident as quickly as possible.”
I asked the United States Secret Service similar questions via email. They called me back confirming they are involved in the investigation and it’s all the information that they could share.
They added that TPD would have to answer any more questions. I left a message for TPD asking more about the investigation late Friday afternoon.
We also submitted a public records request to the City of Tallahassee for more information on this case. They responded Friday evening and said, "The city cannot provide records on an open and active investigation. Please let me know if you need anything further."
ORIGINAL STORY:
The Tallahassee Police Department is conducting a fraud investigation in conjunction with the United States Secret Service.
March 28, TPD’s Financial Crimes Unit received a report from the City of Tallahassee disclosing more than a million dollars in City funds had been stolen from an outside source.
“The City is appreciative of the diligent efforts of the Tallahassee Police Department and United States Secret Service to bring resolution to this cybercrime incident as quickly as possible.”
TPD takes any allegations of fraudulent activity seriously and will work tirelessly to investigate them thoroughly. Detectives are working diligently with the Secret Service to recover the City’s funds and ensure justice is secured in this case.
TPD reminds you to report fraudulent activity online at Talgov.com/police [talgov.com] or by calling TPD at 850-891-4200. You can also remain anonymous by calling Crime Solvers at 850-574-TIPS.
This is an open and active investigation.
