Investigative Audit Ordered By AG

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ An investigation into an embezzlement case at the Oklahoma Tax Commission has expanded, with the attorney general's office requesting an investigative audit for ``criminal and

Wednesday, July 25th 2007, 2:19 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ An investigation into an embezzlement case at the Oklahoma Tax Commission has expanded, with the attorney general's office requesting an investigative audit for ``criminal and other types of misconduct.''

Meanwhile, Tax Commission spokesman Paul Ross said the agency is requesting felony charges be filed against a cashier after auditors determined more than $27,000 was missing.

The request for an investigative audit by Auditor and Inspector Jeff McMahan's Office was contained in a letter sent Monday by Tom Gruber, who is first assistant attorney general in the office of Attorney General Drew Edmondson.

``Because this involves an investigation which could result in criminal charges, this audit and its results are to be kept confidential until the investigation has been completed,'' Gruber wrote.

Ross said internal auditors are working on the case, along with the office of Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater.

A cashier at the Tax Commission is out on bail after being arrested July 17 as part of the probe.

Mark Myers, a spokesman for the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office, said Pebbles Clayton, 34, was booked on one embezzlement complaint and released on $2,000 bond.

No formal charges have been filed.

The money was discovered missing during a routine check by a state auditor and confirmed by Tax Commission auditors, Ross said.

Ross said when the missing money was verified, a security officer interviewed the employee. The woman was arrested by an Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper.

She said Clayton had been an employee of the Tax Commission since 2001.

``Our agency collects $10 billion a year and we have more than 900 employees,'' Ross said. ``Unfortunately, it appears an employee committed a criminal act which auditors found. We feel like the checks-and-balances system we have worked and we took immediate action.''

Charlie Price, spokesman for Edmondson, said the attorney general's office had no further comment on the case.