TBI Closes Overton-Pickett E-911 Investigation

The TBI has closed its investigation into the Overton-Pickett E-911 District and Director Chris Masiongale after determining no criminal activity took place.

The TBI investigated nearly $85,000 in what were deemed questionable expenditures made by Masiongale and the E-911 district.

Attorney Brett Knight said he and his client received word from the TBI Monday that the investigation was being closed.

“After looking at the specifics and going through, reviewing the conversations that had taken place and the meetings previously,” Knight said, “we had anticipated that this would be the outcome, that there was no criminal activity on the part of our client. And we had kind of gotten the indication from TBI early on that they had come to the same conclusion.”

Knight said Masiongale is ready to move forward from the situation and leave the investigation in the past.

“He was happy that this part of his life had concluded and that he could return to a new normal,” Knight said. “I think that was a very appropriate way of looking at things. When you’re charged with something like this or even investigated in something like this, it can turn your world upside-down. To have this conclusion come out to show that there was no criminal activity on his part allows him to move forward in a positive direction.”

Knight said the TBI closing the investigation will also be beneficial for the Overton-Pickett E-911 District as a whole.

“I think it also allows the E-911 board to be able to move forward in a positive direction as well to have this put behind them,” Knight said. “It was properly investigated by the state. They looked into it thoroughly and they came to the conclusion that no criminal conduct had occurred.”

The closing of the investigation marks the end of a six-month search for information by the agency. Knight said he isn’t surprised by the amount of time it took the TBI to complete their investigation.

“When the TBI is looking into a case this… in-depth, there is a lot of conversations,  a lot of meanings, a lot of things they want to look into,” Knight said. “They’re not an agency that jumps to conclusions. They’re one that kind of digs in and makes sure that every detail has been looked at.”

The expenditures that came into question occurred between July 2015 and July 2017. Pickett County officials, including former county executive Richard Daniel, pushed for creating a separate E-911 district over the summer in the wake of the investigation. However, the state’s E-911 board ultimately voted against the efforts.

Requests for comment from the TBI Tuesday were not immediately returned.