The Lafayette County tax collector, who also serves as the county’s treasurer, is facing federal embezzlement charges after a recent legislative audit of the county’s finances showed that more than $162,000 in grant funds and other money was missing.
U.S. Attorney Conner Eldridge said Friday that Keesha Rose, 36, appeared in federal court in Texarkana before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry Bryant, who barred her from the Lafayette County Courthouse grounds as a condition of her pretrial release.
A hearing will be held Wednesday to decide if that ban will continue, Eldridge said.
According to Lafayette County Judge Joe Sanders’ office, Rose has not resigned from her positions in county government. The judge was out of town Friday afternoon and unavailable for comment.
Rose’s husband, Victor Rose, is the Lafayette County sheriff, Sanders’ office confirmed. A message left for Victor Rose was not returned Friday.
Keesha Rose’s attorney, Jeff Harrelson of Texarkana, also did not return a message Friday.
On Jan. 29, a federal grand jury issued an indictment against Rose, charging her with two counts of theft involving a program receiving federal funds.
An audit conducted by the Joint Legislative Audit Division of the finances in Lafayette County resulted in the charges against Rose for funds embezzled while she served as county treasurer, according to Eldridge’s office.
The indictment said that “on or about January 2011 and continuing through on or about December 2011 … Rose did intentionally embezzle, steal, obtain by fraud and otherwise without authority” an amount worth at least $5,000.
It also said that “from on or about January 2012 and continuing through on or about September 2012 … Rose did intentionally embezzle, steal obtain by fraud and otherwise without authority” an amount worth at least $5,000, the indictment stated.
David Resch, the FBI special agent in charge of the investigation, said in a statement Friday that “today’s charges are the result of the collaborative efforts of the FBI’s Ark Trust Public Corruption Task Force, the Arkansas State Police and the U.S. attorney’s office.”
“Together, we are highly committed to combating corruption by following the facts where they lead us. In this case, we allege Mrs. Rose abused her position as Lafayette County treasurer and tax collector by embezzling funds that that were entrusted in her care.”
Lafayette County Justice of the Peace Smead Grimmett and other county officials said Friday that they have not been kept well-informed about Rose’s case. Grimmett said that the only details he has heard have come from media accounts.
“There really seems to be a dearth of information about this,” Grimmett said. “I think all we can do at this point isjust wait for the outcome. It is an unfortunate situation, to be sure.”
Justice of the Peace Diane Fletcher said she “just found out about all this today. I don’t know enough about it yet to say how I feel.”
Around Lewisville, Lafayette County’s seat, many residents contacted about the matter were unaware of it.
Lewisville resident Cassidy Clark said she was angry about the possibility that government funds were improperly used.
“We are a poor enough area as it is,” Clark said. “It’s so disheartening to think that someone might steal from the people. I know I work hard, and the county’s money belongs to me, my neighbors and everyone else who lives here. If someone stole it, it’s like they stole from us.”
Arkansas, Pages 9 on 04/12/2014