Nebraska Auditor Reports Surge in Fraud Tips After 45 Vehicles Flagged, Challenges $2 Million No-Bid Contract
Updated
Updated · Fox News · May 16
Nebraska Auditor Reports Surge in Fraud Tips After 45 Vehicles Flagged, Challenges $2 Million No-Bid Contract
1 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 16
Mike Foley said fraud allegations are pouring into his office as audits uncover suspected misuse of taxpayer-funded vehicles and other state resources across Nebraska.
GPS reviews of 45 state fleet vehicles showed alleged trips to liquor stores, restaurants, medical facilities, relatives’ homes and unauthorized commutes, which Foley said are improper personal errands on the public dime.
Foley also accused Gov. Jim Pillen’s administration of wrongly bypassing bidding rules on a roughly $2 million contract by claiming an emergency that did not exist, and said he referred the matter to law enforcement.
Pillen’s office denied wrongdoing, saying the contract was handled properly and has delivered hundreds of millions of dollars in value through economic development and federal funding opportunities.
Foley said heightened attention to waste and fraud is driving more tips, and added that past investigations have already cost some workers their jobs and sent others to jail.
As Nebraska audits school spending and state contracts, what new rules will prevent future misuse of funds?
Did new technology uncover more fraud in Nebraska, or did it just expose a long-existing problem?
With criminals now using GPS spoofing, how can new tracking technologies stay one step ahead of fraud?