Former GA Library Director Found Guilty of Theft

-- Library Journal, 10/13/2005

David Wilson, former director of the Ocmulgee Regional Library, Eastman, GA, has been found guilty of five counts of theft and one count of grand jury witness tampering, after a federal trial that unearthed a curious pattern of spending and payment. As the Savannah Morning News reported, in the four-day trial, witnesses said Wilson siphoned library bank accounts for personal use, got kickbacks from a contract worker, and stole several items. Wilson retired abruptly in May 2004 after federal officials began their investigation.

A former employee said he washed Wilson's Crown Victoria, his wife's Mercedes Benz, and his daughter's two BMWs while still on the library clock. Another witness said Wilson received $12,000 a year for travel allowances but still requested separate travel reimbursements. Wilson faces a prison sentence of up to ten years and a fine of up to $250,000 on each count. His attorney, Page Pate, told the newspaper. "We think there was insufficient evidence and we plan to appeal several counts."

State Librarian Lamar Veatch, who testified both at the trial and before the earlier grand jury, said "justice has been done" but also acknowledged that he was evaluating "whether changes in state policy may be needed to ensure that nothing like it happens again." Wilson operated with little supervision by the library board; trustees said that, while Wilson gained five raises to reach a $155,000 salary—the largest in the state—they did not vote for them. The library bookkeeper said that salaries were listed as a lump sum before budgets were approved. Prosecutors pointed out, despite the director's pay, the library was last in the state in terms of percentage of budget spent on materials.