News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued a 48-count indictment against a former Jackson County non-profit director.
The DOJ and Tennessee Comptroller’s Office reports federal agents arrested 48-year-old Patrick Martin of Gainesboro Friday for allegedly using state and federal funding for personal gain.
John Dunn serves as the Comptroller Office’s Director of Communications.
“This is a case that Our investigators spent many, many months on,” Dunn said. “In some cases, [Martin] would reimburse himself for his personal purchases, he wrote himself extra paychecks, he essentially would pay himself with coalition funds, and then pay himself as if he had paid that money.”
Martin served as the executive director of Jackson County’s Community Prevention Coalition until the organization dissolved in 2017.
DOJ officials released a statement Monday saying Martin’s actions resulted in fraudulent wire transfers totaling approximately $375,000. The Comptroller’s Office states Martin took over $46,000 for personal use between 2014 and 2015, including new hunting equipment, electric bills, and a 1987 Ford Mustang.
Dunn said this particular case presented unique challenges that made things tougher on investigators.
“We have very skilled investigators who look at bank records, who review invoices and receipts and all kinds of documentation from organizations. When we have good documentation, it’s fairly easy to put the pieces together,” Dunn said. “In this case, it was made a little more difficult because many of the records of the Community Prevention Coalition were actually destroyed in a fire a few days after our investigation began.”
The DOJ reports 51-year-old Jeff Hynes of Gainesboro also faces charges after he and Martin intentionally burned invoices and other financial documents during the state’s investigation.
The coalition was initially created to combat underage drinking and smoking in Jackson County. The organization’s board of directors voted to cease operations following the Comptroller’s investigation.
A federal grand jury indicted Martin and Hynes earlier this month. The DOJ reports Martin could face a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted on all charges, while Hynes faces up to 20 years for destroying documents during a federal investigation.
