US official accused of paying 419 scammer $1.2m
A former treasurer of Alcona County in Michigan has been arrested after allegedly investing more than $1.2m of county funds in Nigerian fraud scams.
Security firm Sophos said that Thomas Katona, who was treasurer of Alcona County for 13 years, has been charged with forgery and multiple counts of embezzlement. Both charges carry a jail sentence of 10 years or more.
It is reported that county treasury employees became suspicious of Katona's dealings after local bank officials informed them that he had directed several unauthorised transfers to overseas accounts during late 2006, including to beneficiaries linked with Nigerian 419 scams.
