Officials face up to 20 years in prison for alleged misuse of taxpayer money
By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS STAFF
Published November 4, 2025
The Mayor of Brooksville, Mississippi, and the town’s former city clerk have been arrested on charges of embezzling public funds through unauthorized checks, cash withdrawals, and falsified payroll records, the Mississippi State Auditor’s Office announced.
Mayor Earlie Henley and former City Clerk Shaquita Malone are accused of diverting city money for personal use in a scheme uncovered during a recent financial review.
Investigators allege that Henley wrote city checks to himself without the required second signature of approval and made personal cash withdrawals from municipal accounts. According to the auditor’s office, the funds were pocketed rather than used for city business.
Malone, who worked under Henley’s supervision, allegedly manipulated her pay records to collect money she was not owed. Authorities said she changed her employment status in the city’s payroll system from salaried to hourly and increased her hourly wage to generate inflated payments.
The investigation also revealed that Malone has a prior felony conviction, making her ineligible to hold the position of city clerk under Mississippi law.
Both were taken into custody following an internal audit of Brooksville’s financial records, the auditor’s office said. The findings have since been referred to prosecutors for further legal action.
If convicted, Henley and Malone could each face up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $5,000.
“This case highlights why transparency and oversight in small-town government are so vital,” State Auditor Shad White said in a statement. “Taxpayers deserve honesty and accountability from their public officials.”