Audit finds unexplained credit card purchases in LeFlore County

POCOLA, Okla. (AP) -- The state Auditor finds more than $6,500 in unexplained credit card purchases by the former town clerk of Pocola.<br/><br/>According to the audit released Wednesday, investigators

Friday, September 9th 2005, 6:44 am

By: News On 6

POCOLA, Okla. (AP) -- The state Auditor finds more than $6,500 in unexplained credit card purchases by the former town clerk of Pocola.

According to the audit released Wednesday, investigators also found more than $4,500 in charges by employees in the town.

The audit alleges Brenda Allen personally charged about $202 to taxpayers while on vacation and about $129 for meals after she'd already gotten $125 to pay for them.

The report looked at purchases on Pocola's Master-Card, Sam's and Wal-Mart credit cards from March 1st, 2003, to August 10th, 2004, to determine whether charges were made for town use.

Allen was town clerk from March 1st, 2003, to July 29th, 2004. She resigned August 10th, 2004.

Allen oversaw the use of town credit cards and gave workers the cards when they were needed. She couldn't be reached for comment.

State Auditor Jeff McMahan says state law requires the purpose of a purchase, and who made the purchase, be documented. He says the report was sent to Le Flore County prosecutors.