County admin who admitted guilt in $1.3M scandal dies

The former Neshoba County administrator who pleaded guilty in 2016 to one count of fraud in public office in a $1.3 million overtime embezzlement scandal died Saturday.

Benjie Coats, the former administrator, resigned in December 2014 as the scandal unfolded and ultimately, after being indicted by a Neshoba County grand jury in 2015, pleaded guilty in exchange for testifying against three other county employees who were later found guilty of falsifying paperwork to obtain millions in fraudulent overtime pay.

Coats’ indictment charged that on or about January 2008 through November 2012, he “did willfully, unlawfully, feloniously and fraudulently defraud Neshoba County . . . by knowingly approving fraudulent overtime statements for overtime that was not worked by county employees.”

In his plea deal, Coats was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Nine years were suspended and he was ordered to serve one year under house arrest, reportable to the Mississippi Department of Corrections.

Coats was also ordered to make $100,000 in restitution to the county. He was also fined $5,000.

Coats was county administrator for 23 years, having previously served as emergency management director. Coats was 64.

The three county employees were former payroll clerk Tammy Gomillion, former purchasing clerk Julie Faye Russell, and former bookkeeper Jill Watkins. 

The three women were released from prison four years ago.