A former Lawrence County Tax Collector Deputy Clerk has pleaded guilty to embezzlement.

Hollie Summers was arrested in November 2023, and was accused of reversing transactions for vehicle registrations and renewals, then taking the cash payments for herself. Summers was served with a $48,885.37 demand letter at the time of her arrest.

“Thank you to our dedicated team of investigators and to the prosecutors who chose to indict,” said Auditor White. “We’ve recovered more taxpayer money in the last five years than in any other five-year period, and we’re going to keep going.”

Summers was sentenced by the Lawrence County Circuit Court to 5 years with the Mississippi Department of Corrections, with 1 year of ISP House Arrest with the remaining 4 years suspended and 4 years to be served on Post Release Supervision. Summers was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $21,710.

A $50,000 surety bond covers Summers’ employment as a Lawrence County Tax Collector Clerk. Surety bonds are similar to insurance designed to protect taxpayers from corruption.

“There is zero tolerance for theft of public funds in Mississippi,” White said. “For anyone else stealing out there, you should know that we are watching. Thank you to Lawrence County Tax Collector Sherry Hyde-Thames for reporting Summers as soon as she was aware of her alleged crimes.”

Suspected fraud can be reported to the Auditor’s office online at any time by clicking the red button at www.osa.ms.gov or calling 1-(800)-321-1275 during normal business hours.