A 20-year employee of Mississippi State University is accused of embezzling about $35,000 from the university across a five-year period.
Susan Holder, 63, was arrested by the Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Department Wednesday after an investigation was conducted by the state auditor’s office.
University Chief Communications Officer Sid Salter confirmed Holder was state 4-H program leader and an Extension Service professor.
Holder was indicted by an Oktibbeha County grand jury on one count of embezzlement after the state auditor’s office determined Holder “received excessive reimbursement for travel” — approximately $35,496.98 — between September 2007 and October 2011.
Holder was released on a $10,000 bond on Friday.
“Evidence shows that Holder charged travel expenses on her personal credit card, which was paid by a private foundation, and then submitted reimbursement to MSU for the same expenses,” a release from Auditor Stacey Pickering’s office states.
“Employees like Ms. Holder, who violate the public trust, will be held accountable for their actions,” Pickering said in the release.
Holder worked for MSU from 1991 until she was fired on Nov. 30, 2011, the release states.
The Associated Press reports Holder had moved from Starkville to Pecos, Texas.
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