Task Force Audit Shows Theft And Misuse
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A state audit released Wednesday reveals shocking findings of abuse of power by two top West Tennessee lawmen and others in regards to use of big ticket items seized by the 24th Judicial Drug Task Force. This drug task force oversees five counties in West Tennessee. The audit said the board of directors “failed to provide adequate oversight” and “did not follow adequate record-keeping or inventory management practices.” As a result, a former administrative assistant admitted to taking drugs and others used equipment confiscated from the task force for personal use. Henry County Sheriff Monte Belew said he and District Attorney General Hansel McCadams were the ones who called for the investigation because there were drugs and money missing. But they did not think they did anything wrong. “We knew there was some wrong going on within the drug task force and we were shocked at some of its findings,” Belew said. The audit found that McCadams used equipment confiscated from the task force for personal use, allowed their helicopter to transport dignitaries to Henry County High School football games and kept seized items – including a handgun and assault rifles – at his home. It also said Belew drove a BMW Z-3 to ceremonial events and for personal use. “The vehicle was not used for vacations, or to take the kids to the water park out of state or anything like that,” Belew said. “It was a seized vehicle from a drug dealer. It was a BMW. Who wouldn’t want to drive it?” Belew said he drove it around Henry County and to sheriff’s association meetings, but did not use taxpayer money to buy gas. “The auditors contend that the only two reasons that that vehicle can be used by a sheriff’s office is for drug education and drug enforcement,” Belew said. Henry County trustees while on work detail at the task force headquarters are also said to have smoked seized crack cocaine and marijuana and taken cash from evidence files. ABC 7 Eyewitness News could not reach Attorney General McCadams for comment because he was in court, but he did release this statement: “As a whole, we agree with the recommendations of the audit, and have immediately adopted policies and procedures to incorporate these recommendations.” The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said that since McCadams would prosecute these kinds of cases, he will have to recuse himself, and a special prosecutor be appointed, before they can move forward with any criminal proceedings.
