TUSCO Probate Judge Gives Update On Probe Of License Commissioner

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The results of a state examiner's audit allege a former Tuscaloosa County license commissioner and former deputy license commissioner mismanaged taxpayer funds to the tune of $141,626.21 over the course of several years. The investigation was prompted by Tuscaloosa County Probate Judge Rob Robertson in December 2019 after potential irregularities were noticed in the office.

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Robertson, in an update to local media Friday morning, said he initially requested the Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts review the license commissioner’s office following an internal review, with the findings released last November, before being referred to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

Click here to read the full report.

"Every indication I have, this was a pretty small set of circumstances in the office," Robertson said. "The majority that work in there work every day and work hard."

Robertson also pointed out the high volume of money that comes through the office — $24 million annually.

"We have a lot of in-person transactions, but all of this kind of connects to making sure, like running a business, you make sure every dollar comes in and goes out is handled appropriately," he said, before declining to comment on what specifically prompted the investigation.

The former license commissioner, who Patch has chosen to not identify by name until formally charged, was placed on administrative leave in December 2019 and resigned in February 2020.

According to the state examiner's report, the former license commissioner failed to appear at a meeting with the chief examiner and show just cause as to why the amounts charged should not be repaid. However, the deputy commissioner did meet with the state examiner and was relieved of the charges, according to Robertson and the latest report.

"The charges remain due and unpaid, and as a result, this report will be certified to the Attorney General for collection," the report states. "The former Deputy License Commissioner appeared at a meeting before the Chief Examiner and showed just cause as to why amounts charged to her should not be repaid; therefore, relief was granted as evidenced by the Order of the Chief Examiner."

What's more, the report alleges modifications totaling $131,180.96 were made from April 18, 2016 through Dec. 4, 2019, using the credentials of the former license commissioner, and modifications totaling $5,025.57 were made from June 13, 2017 through July 8, 2019 using the credentials of the deputy license commissioner. State investigators claim this was done in an effort to reduce the amount of reported taxes and fees collected from taxpayers.

"These modifications were made after the taxpayers completed the transactions, but before the money was deposited in the License Commissioner’s bank accounts," the report said.

Additionally, further allegations claim the former license commissioner, during her term in office, issued six motor vehicle tags and corresponding decals to herself and family members with no corresponding payment of ad valorem taxes.

Also among the charges, state investigators cite 16 checks totaling $4,850, written to the Tuscaloosa County License Commissioner’s office by the former commissioner were returned for insufficient funds.

"It appears these checks were written in exchange for cash from money in the Office collected from taxpayers," the report says.

Robertson stressed to the public that as soon as the full audit on the license office is returned, more clarity will be provided to inform taxpayers. He also said the county will exhaust all avenues to recoup the money.

"The point is, this is what I want as a taxpayer, that if anything is going on, that there will be no stone left unturned," he said, before saying there was no set timetable on when the full audit would be returned.

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