Lewis County Man Indicted for Stealing from Soil Conservation District
The Tennessee Comptroller’s Office has released an investigation resulting in the indictment of Timmie Hinson, a board member for the Lewis County Soil Conservation District.
Investigators determined that Hinson stole at least $2,713 from the district by submitting inflated cost amounts and receiving excess reimbursement related to a district project conducted on his personal property. The Comptroller’s Office began its investigation after the Tennessee Department of Agriculture reported concerns regarding this project.
The investigation revealed that in 2016 Hinson requested district assistance to stabilize a stream bank on his property. Hinson signed the standard application and agreement acknowledging the district would reimburse him no more than 75% of the cost of the project.
Prior to starting the project, Hinson made a deal with a contractor which would allow Hinson to recover his total project costs, in direct violation of the agreement’s terms. Hinson submitted a false and inflated invoice for $14,469.40 to the district, and he was reimbursed $10,852 (75% of $14,469). Hinson paid the contractor $9,447.55 and kept $1,404 to cover the value of services and equipment he personally contributed to the project.
As a result of submitting this inflated invoice, Hinson received excess public funds totaling $2,713 to which he was not entitled.
| Summary of Misappropriation | Amount |
| Total reimbursed to Hinson for project | $10,852 |
| Less: Authorized reimbursement (75% of $10,852) |
($8,139) |
| Total Amount Misappropriated | $2,713 |
In November 2018, Timmie Hinson was indicted by the Lewis County Grand Jury on one count of theft over $2,500.
To view the investigation online, go to: https://comptroller.tn.gov/office-functions/investigations/find.html
If you suspect fraud, waste or abuse of public money in Tennessee, call the Comptroller’s toll-free hotline at (800) 232-5454, or file a report online at: www.comptroller.tn.gov/hotline. Follow us on twitter @TNCOT
Media contact: John Dunn, Public Information Officer, 615.401.7755 or john.dunn@cot.tn.gov
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