ALCORN COUNTY, Miss. — The Mississippi State Auditor announced on Monday Alcorn County Sheriff Charles Rinehart along with two others have been arrested following a ten count indictment for fraud and conspiracy.
According to reports, an investigation uncovered that the Sheriff’s Department had purchased six cars from Cars for Less, which was owned by Teddy and Pamela Denise Null.
Fraudulent quotes representing other vendors were created by the Nulls to ensure they were the lowest quote.
The Sheriff then submitted those quotes to the Alcorn County Board of Supervisors as competitive quotes when they were looking to buy, trade in or sell vehicles.
It was also discovered that the vehicles were salvaged vehicles that may have been rebuilt with stolen parts.
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is working to determine if those parts were stolen.
“Based on our investigation, Sheriff Rinehart used his position to manipulate the system,” said State Auditor Stacey Pickering. “Teddy Null and Pamela Denise Null conspired with the Sheriff to ensure their company received the Sheriff’s business while not disclosing the condition of all the salvage vehicles to the County. In addition, our investigation has uncovered questions relating to the business operation at Cars for Less in Alcorn County. The Behavior of the Sheriff and this vendor is deplorable and will not be tolerated.”
In addition, Rinehart was issued an unrelated civil demand on June 18, for $181,161.93 for fund misappropriated by his department.
He was elected to office back in 2008.
WREG was told Rinehart has paid his $25,000 bail and scheduled to be back in court July 1.
Pickering refused to say how his office got the tip to start looking into this case.