News

Columbus – A state audit released today questions spending by a former volunteer with the Village of Rockford.

The audit of the Mercer County village issued a finding for recovery totaling $11,730 against James Crocker, who volunteered to be the General Manager of the village’s low power FM radio station.

Bank records show Crocker made 93 purchases from the Village of Rockford’s WRKD-LP Radio bank account totaling $3,529 between May 12, 2014 and January 12, 2018, which were unrelated to the operation of the radio station. These purchases included food, gas, liquid nicotine inhalant, and payment to a stock transfer company.

Additionally, 73 transactions totaling $3,002 lacked supporting documentation. It could not be reasonably determined, based on the goods and services provided, if the purchases were for a public purpose.  

Furthermore, Crocker used the same account to write 11 checks totaling $1,220 to himself, his wife, and their business, Crocker Media Group LLC, without authorization from Rockford Village Council.  

From July 2015 to January 2018, Crocker wrote five checks totaling $555 from his personal accounts which were issued to and deposited into the Village of Rockford WRKD-LP Radio bank account.  The Auditor’s Office accepted these deposits as partial restitution against the finding for recovery. 

A full copy of this report is available online.