Former Horn Lake alderman indicted on fraud charge

DESOTO COUNTY, Miss. — Former Horn Lake Alderman Charlie Roberts has been indicted on unemployment compensation fraud, according to DeSoto County District Attorney Matthew Barton.

The DA’s office said Wednesday that Roberts was receiving benefits and also receiving pay as an alderman. Each time Roberts was supposed to update his file, he consistently failed to disclose that income.

“In this line of work there are a few things that boil my blood than a taxpayer being ripped off,” Barton said. “Even in a good place like DeSoto County there is corruption and it’s our job to shine a light on that because a good place can be made better when we do that.”

It is unclear at this time how much he allegedly received in fraudulent compensation.

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According to the Mississippi state auditor, over $500 million in unemployment compensation fraud was reported during COVID-19.

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