MUNCIE, IN — A State Board of Accounts report identifies two former employees of Muncie’s parks and recreation department who are accused of stealing more than $20,000 in city money.
In a news release issued on April 16, Mayor Dan Ridenour’s office said those employees — George Foley Jr., who had been the department’s program director, and a department assistant, Nikki Eckerson — had been fired as a result of the SBA allegations.
Foley and Ackerson were not identified by name in the city’s release.
The allegations against them were detailed in the SBA report, later made public. It alleges Foley — who was fired from his city job in December 2024 — deposited checks intended for the city into his own accounts or cashed them.
Some of the missing money was reportedly intended for the parks department’s summer youth mentor and internship program.
The report accuses Foley of taking $14,975 in parks department revenue.
He is also accused of conflict of interest-based city money allegedly being deposited into the accounts of businesses he was associated with.
Eckerson is accused of failing to deposit $6,496 in revenue from rental of park facilities, including shelters and cabins.
In the report, state auditors ask that Foley and Eckerson pay a total of $42,924.37, covering both reimbursement of stolen money to the city and the cost of the SBA investigation.
The findings of the SBA investigation were discussed on March 31 with Ridenour, city officials including a city council council member, and three members of the parks and recreation board.
Delaware County Prosecutor Eric Hoffman has said he is reviewing the State Board of Accounts report to determine whether criminal charges should be filed.
The investigation began in October 2022, when Ridenour and city controller Craig Wright met with SBA personnel and Indiana State Police to discuss a “suspicious invoice,” according to the report.
“From the moment concerns were identified, we acted swiftly and responsibly,” Ridenour said in last week’s release. “Protecting taxpayer dollars will always be a top priority for this administration.”
Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: SBA report names ex-parks employees linked to missing money
Reporting by Douglas Walker, Muncie Star Press / Muncie Star Press
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