Although Burke County leaders declined to directly say they have asked for an investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation of how Burke County Sheriff Alfonzo Williams may have spent grant money, they have turned the matter over to the “appropriate authorities.”
In the latest development following a closed-door meeting late last month, Burke County commissioners announced they were turning the matter of the sheriff’s spending of grant money over to the “appropriate authorities.”
According to financial data provided by the county administrator’s office, Williams set up a bank account and credit card independent of the county and set about spending $425,000 in donations from Plant Vogtle and the federal Housing and Human Development agency.
According to the county’s figures, the sheriff’s office spent $184,704 in less than a year, and when questioned, Williams could not provide receipts. By the county’s math, $20,363 was spent of travel, $6,357 on food, $22,311 on charity and $20,115 on attorney fees.
Some of those attorney fees paid for in grant money may have been for representing the sheriff in a legal action he filed against county commissioners last November, and the county’s cross action against the sheriff.
Williams wanted to gain control over his department’s payroll. The county wanted a judge’s order forcing Williams to abide by the county’s purchasing rules. On Jan. 24, Superior Court Judge Jesse Stone ruled against both parties. Williams filed notice of appeal, but it was withdrawn on July 29.
Williams turned over the remaining funds from the grants and donations, $217,914, to the county in July.
