TDK owner pleads guilty in fraud, bribery case
JACKSON, Miss. — State Auditor Shad White announced that Verneshia Cody, the owner and operator of TDK Accounting and Tax Services, pleaded guilty to one count of fraud and one count of bribery of a public official, the auditor’s office said.
According to the announcement, Cody submitted fraudulent documents to the Mississippi Department of Health to obtain funds through the MS Covid-19 Health Disparities Elimination Project. Prosecutors allege she used fraudulent invoices, improper expense claims and counterfeit checks to obtain sub-grant funds and then withdrew and spent the money for personal use.
“Thank you to the investigators who worked this case and the prosecutors who chose to bring charges,” Auditor White said. “Working with prosecutors, my office has recovered more money in the last seven years than any other seven-year period and we’ve done this by staying true to our promise: zero tolerance for theft of taxpayer money.”
Madison County Circuit Court sentenced Cody to 10 years in MDOC custody, with two years to serve day for day, and five years of supervised probation, the announcement said.
The Mississippi Department of Health is the state agency that manages public health programs, and the COVID-19 health disparities project was established to target pandemic-related inequities. Suspected fraud can be reported to the auditor’s office via the red button on the auditor’s website or by calling 1-(800) 321-1275 during normal business hours.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more details emerge.
