Croy

CAIRO — The Georgia Bureau of Investigation arrested former Grady County clerk Carrie Croy on Tuesday afternoon after she was charged with one count theft by taking.

Croy, 52, surrendered to law enforcement at the Grady County Jail on an outstanding warrant issued Monday. 

GBI stated in a press release that Croy is alleged to have taken approximately $5,800 between April 2015 and April 2018 in her capacity as county clerk.

Croy resigned as county clerk Oct. 23 amidst allegations of misappropriation of taxpayer money.

County auditor Perry Henry informed the county commission of suspicious discrepancies surrounding Croy’s paychecks in early October while performing a routine audit of the county’s finances.

The audit was turned over to South Georgia District Attorney Joe Mulholland following Croy’s resignation to determine if the investigation should become criminal.

A letter by county administrator Buddy Johnson to the commission describing the audit’s findings alleged that Croy was involved in “widespread” manipulation of the payroll and finance software in order to increase the value of her personal paychecks.

Henry asked the commission for his investigation of Croy’s activity to remain secret until the audit was completed.

The audit revealed additional findings of incriminating behavior by Croy beyond the information made public in Johnson’s letter. 

Croy’s alleged activity dated back to at least 2015. According to Johnson’s letter, the alleged manipulation had no clear pattern or consistency over time.

Special agent in charge Jamy Steinberg said GBI received a request Nov. 6 to conduct the investigation from Mulholland, who had been reviewing the case since October.

A GBI press release states that once the case is completed it will be turned over to Mulholland.