Friday, August 15, 2014

SamTrans: some accounting irregularities, but no criminal misconduct


Some confusion prior
San Mateo Patch/Renee Schiavone, Editor, 7/12/14. "DA:  No criminal misconduct in SamTrans accounting."  "Two former SamTrans employees set off the investigation earlier this year when thy cam forward alleging that funds were misappropriated.

Got that accounting thing cleaned up
"San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe has concluded his office’s investigation into allegations of improper accounting practices at the San Mateo County Transit District after finding no evidence of criminal misconduct. 

....  Two accounting firms investigated the claims but did not find evidence of criminal violations or indication that money had been “embezzled, lost or otherwise unaccounted for,” Wagstaffe said in a letter to SamTrans’ attorney David Miller. However, the investigation did find “inappropriate accounting entries” in SamTrans’ books, Wagstaffe said. 

SamTrans has already corrected the mistakes found in the investigation and is implementing recommendations by auditors to avoid future problems, according to SamTrans spokeswoman Jayme Ackemann. These changes include upgrading the agency’s finance software and adding more staff to the accounting department, Ackemann said."   Read article.

 Upgraded software, hired staff
Related article -  The Daily Journal (San Mateo), Michelle Durand, 8/13/14. "DA finds no SamTrans crimes: Investigation into financial practices shows some accounting shortfalls, but no wrongdoing."

....  "The District Attorney’s Office said there was no evidence of wrongdoing and the investigation is now closed. Assistant District Attorney Al Serrato sent a letter to SamTrans counsel David J. Miller alerting him that the investigation “revealed no evidence of theft, embezzlement or other criminal conduct.”SamTrans officials welcomed the news which confirmed what they said they already knew."

Bay Area News Group/Bonnie Eslinger, 4/21/14. "Suit say Sam Trans retaliated against ex-employee for questioning accounting practices."  NBC Bay Area/Insiders Vicky Nguyen, Jeremy Carroll and Kevin Nious, 9/20/13, article and video, 7:38 minutes. "Insiders allege fraudulent accounting at SamTrans."

Reference -SamTrans Press Release, 8/12/14. "Transit District pleased to see DA investigation concluded."  “We welcome the news from the District Attorney’s office that its investigation has been concluded and that there is no finding of any criminal conduct or wrongdoing."
 
Posted by Kathy Meeh

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Maybe Ch 4 Investigation of Pacifica missing $4,000,000 would clear things up.ik

Anonymous said...

When this accountant starts to dig it will be much more than just $4,000,000.

Anonymous said...

How about Stanley Roberts

people behaving badly

Anonymous said...

It's pretty outrageous. All we really have in the way of an explanation is oh btw, we don't know what we spent 4 million on, but we spent it, ok? Hardly inspires trust unless you're a Pacifican and so numb to crap you think your interests are best served by looking the other way and hoping what you're seeing isn't what it looks like.