Pubdate: Tue, 28 Oct 2003
Source: Shelby Star, The (NC)
Copyright: 2003sThe Shelby Star
Contact:  http://www.shelbystar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1722

FORMER SHERIFF'S 'FLOWER FUND' QUESTIONED

SHELBY - If video poker forfeiture money was deposited into the special 
account of former Sheriff Dan Crawford - an account which is under 
investigation by the FBI - "there has been a violation of state statutes," 
according to an expert in local government finance.

Jack Vogt, a specialist in local government finance with the Institute of 
Government, said that a special account in the sheriff's office should have 
been governed by a board, bylaws, officers and other controls.

"It sounds like nothing like that is in place," Vogt said. "Therefore, this 
is unusual at best, the controls are inadequate and it falls far short 
under internal control principles for handling money."

Crawford is under investigation by the FBI in connection with an account he 
calls a "flower fund."

More than $70,000 moved through the account over a five-year period, and it 
contained $5,961.25 in forfeited money from illegal video poker machines 
and a drug case. Much of the money went to purchases of flowers and 
donations to other charities, such as $500 to the Cleveland-Rutherford 
Kidney Association on April 10, 2001. Other money went to magazine 
subscriptions and other items, such as a $100 check written to Ducks 
Unlimited on Feb. 19, 1999.

Attorney Rob Deaton, who is Crawford's legal adviser, confirmed that he 
knew of no bylaws, officers or board members governing the account. Deaton 
said he agrees that, "you cannot intentionally deposit forfeiture money in 
an account like that."

Vogt said that, under state law, the sheriff may have a bank account for 
official money, only if authorized by the county commissioners.

County Manager Lane Alexander said county commissioners made no such 
authorization.

Deaton disagreed with Vogt's interpretation.

"The sheriff is a constitutional office, and I don't know whether the 
county has any authority over the sheriff with respect to saying, 'you've 
got to bring any money you raised to commissioners,'" Deaton said. "I'm not 
really sure that's the law."

District Attorney Bill Young said Monday that the FBI has not contacted him 
about its investigation. He declined to comment on possible investigations 
at the state level.

Meanwhile, further examination of records obtained by The Star show that in 
1997 checks were written to two state legislators off the account.

On Oct. 10, 1997, a check for $100 was written to then N.C. Rep. Andy 
Dedmon, according to a check ledger.

Dedmon said he doesn't remember receiving a check from Crawford's account. 
He said the only time he remembered Crawford giving him any money was a 
$100 campaign contribution in 1994, which came from a personal check.

On Nov. 21, 1997, the ledger shows a $50 check was written to "Senator 
Walter Dalton." In addition, an Aug. 25, 1997, a check for $110 was listed 
as being written to "DARE." On the line below was the term "golf tour." And 
a notation at the side said "Sen. Walter Dalton."

Dalton said, to the best of his recollection, he did not cash the $50 check 
and that the $110 was for a golf tournament in which he was invited to 
play. He said he "had no idea" it came from an account that was set up to 
benefit the sheriff's office.

Dalton said he didn't cash the $50 check because "Dan was an elected 
official, and when I invite elected officials to fund-raisers I give them a 
complimentary pass."

Don Wright, general counsel to the State Board of Elections, said that he 
could not say whether the checks were political contributions. "But the 
nature of the check being from a special account, it would cause one to ask 
a few questions about the purpose," he said.

Wright added that the state board has had no complaints filed on the matter.

Also Monday, former Sheriff's Capt. Billy Benton defended his actions 
related to $5,961.25 in video poker and drug forfeiture money that was 
deposited into the account.

"I felt uncomfortable about that transaction, so I put my initial on that 
bank deposit slip just like I would any other piece of evidence and I put 
it back in the evidentiary file in the evidence vault," said Benton.

Deaton said that any implication Benton did something wrong is "incorrect."

The video poker money "was deposited into the special fund account at the 
authorization of Sheriff Crawford," Deaton said. "It was inadvertently 
deposited into that account, but Capt. Benton followed orders. The sheriff 
takes responsibility for whatever happened."

Benton also denied any wrongdoing regarding a $5,000 check written on Aug. 
29, 2000.

"To ensure to people that I didn't do anything wrong or anybody else in 
that administration below Crawford, I raised objections to Mr. Deaton and 
he said he would clarify what happened," Benton said.

Deaton told The Star "the $5,000 check for drug money issued to Benton - 
this was something that was routine. 'Flash money,' it's called. They flash 
a wad of money to lure a seller of illegal drugs.

"My information from former Sheriff Crawford is that this occurred late one 
Friday afternoon when there was a drug deal going down."

A review of the 2000 calendar reveals that Aug. 29 fell on a Tuesday.

Deaton said that on Sept. 5, 2000, a $5,000 deposit was made in that same 
account. Deaton said the deposit is shown on a bank statement in the 
possession of Crawford, although he declined to share those records with 
The Star.

In the days following the withdrawal of the "flash money," there is no 
deposit of $5,000 recorded on the check ledger obtained by The Star.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart