A report from the State Auditor’s office has uncovered what it describes as new “inappropriate and potentially fraudulent activities” by the former Wright County Collector in southwest Missouri.
Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway’s (D) report says the potentially fraudulent activities involve former Wright County Collector Cynthia Cottengim. Galloway says the former collector resigned in July, after pleading guilty to forging $477 in checks from county accounts. Galloway’s new report says it appears that this was “just a fraction of the amount mishandled” during Cottengim’s time as Wright County Collector. Galloway says the total amount will likely exceed $7,000.
Galloway says her audit “shows that the former collector broke her promise to the citizens of Wright County.” Cottengim pleaded guilty to one count of forgery in July. She paid $477 in restitution, resigned immediately following the guilty plea and was placed on unsupervised probation for one year.
Galloway’s office tells Missourinet the new audit findings have been forward to law enforcement.
