Audits fail to mention $280,000 in credit card spending

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. (AP) - Audits of East St. Louis Townhsip government over the past four years failed to mention three of its supervisors charged about $280,000 to taxpayer-supported credit cards.

The Belleville News-Democrat reports (http://bit.ly/2d1lWJe) the charges were made without the knowledge or approval of the township board of trustees.

The Belleville auditing firm of Scheffel Boyle was paid $8,000 for the latest township audit for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2015. The News-Democrat reports company spokesman Dennis Ulrich says when it comes to an audit, he can speak only to "the client," who in this case is Supervisor Oliver Hamilton

The questionable charges from 2012 through July of 2016 include hundreds of purchases at online stores, airlines, hotels, gift shops, large retail outlets, pharmacies and restaurants.

Use of the cards is being investigated by the FBI.

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Information from: Belleville News-Democrat, http://www.bnd.com