Aug. 09--PIKEVILLE, Tenn. -- The mayor of Pikeville cost the town more than $250,000 over the past several years by both stealing money and wasting it on unnessary expenses, according to a state comptroller's report released today.

The Comptroller's Division of Investigations found five separate instances of fraud, waste and abuse by third-term Mayor Greg Johnson -- including spending almost $16,000 of city money to purchase a 2008 Honda Element that was used by a family member.

Johnson was indicted last month by a grand jury in Bledsoe County for official misconduct and theft over $60,000, felonies that together could mean up to 14 years in prison.

Today's report also detailed the purchase of another 10 vehicles -- including a Lexus and a Land Rover, all paid for with over $100,000 of city money -- that appear to never have been used for official purposes and were not titled, according to the report. Johnson admitted to taking one of them on a trip to Miami.

The comptroller's office also found Johnson received more than $130,000 in a scheme he devised to submit reimbursement claims to the town for health insurance premiums he never paid for himself or his family. Instead, Johnson was insured by his wife's plan, and submitted claims for coverage on a town policy even though he did not purchase insurance through the town's carrier.

He also received more than $37,000 from the town for a vehilce allowance even though it was never authorized by the board of aldermen or included in his annual salary package. He also purchased $6,000 in fuel over the course of 11 months, the report states.

More details as they become available online and in Friday's News Sentinel.

___

(c)2012 the Knoxville News-Sentinel (Knoxville, Tenn.)

Visit the Knoxville News-Sentinel (Knoxville, Tenn.) at www.knoxnews.com

Distributed by MCT Information Services

Source:	McClatchy-Tribune Information Services
Wordcount:	305