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Former clerk gambles away town’s money

Monday, March 4, 2002 | 11:11 a.m.

BATON ROUGE, La. -- More than $400,000 is missing from the Town of Haynesville's funds, siphoned off over a nine-year period, some of it used by the former clerk to gamble, the legislative auditor said today.

Former town clerk Marilyn Bush acknowledged taking about $70,000 in 1999 but only during that year, said the audit released by Legislative Auditor Dan Kyle. "According to Ms. Bush, she used this money to gamble," said the audit.

Records indicate she took money from the town as early as July 1991, said Kyle, who added that a total of $432,250 was collected by the town but not deposited into the town's bank accounts.

Bush goes on trial in about eight weeks, he said.

The investigation was started by state police when a private accounting firm looking at the town's books found problems. Then, Kyle's office was called to look at the books.

Haynesville Mayor Mickey Mayfield said the town intends to seek complete restitution for its loss.

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