JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KFVS) - An audit by Missouri Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick finds nearly a quarter of a million dollars has been misappropriated from the Naylor-Neelyville Ambulance District.

Fitzpatrick says the audit shows the district improperly paid himself and family members, while possibly falsifying board meeting minutes in an effort to mislead auditors and cover his tracks.

After receiving a “poor” rating from the state auditor’s office, members of the current Naylor-Neelyville Ambulance District said they are working to get things back on track.

Board President Jason Shepard said he pushed for the state to take a closer look at the district’s books; and that’s when auditors found things weren’t right.

“The taxpayers of the district had about $250,000 stolen from them,” Fitzpatrick said.

The audit covers the period of time from January of 2017 to June of 2023. During this time frame, the audit shows money totaling at least $249,247 was misappropriated from the district.

He said the district faces other funding issues on top of the stolen money.

“The district failed to file budgets that are required to be filed annually with the state auditor’s office and as a result of that, the district owes fines of over $900,000,” he added.

Fitzpatrick stated Brad Davis served as district director during this time. His wife served as the billing clerk during part of that time and his mother served as board secretary. The audit claims Davis issued 290 payments to himself, his wife and his mother.

According to the auditor’s office, improper payments authorized by Davis included severance, duplicate, advance and bonus payments, as well as payments for unnecessary election services when no elections were held and COVID-19 response payments when no response activities took place. Other claims of improper payments were for expense reimbursements that were unsupported and questionable.

Fitzpatrick’s audit finds that not only were the payments undeserved, they also warrant criminal prosecution.

“This was an appalling abuse of authority that needs to be prosecuted to the fullest extent possible, but it’s also a cautionary tale to remind all political subdivisions that they need appropriate oversight and effective checks and balances in place to protect our tax dollars from misuse,” Fitzpatrick said in a released statement. “I urge the current Board for the ambulance district to implement our recommendations as quickly as possible to ensure a breach of public trust of this magnitude cannot happen again.”

“It kind of put me in shock and worry for my town and their ambulance service,” Ryan Angley said.

He is the newest board member for the ambulance district.

He said it’s vital for Naylor to have an ambulance service that’s fully funded and functioning.

“If this truck isn’t parked here, the next available one is a 30-minute drive away, so the need is vast.”

The state’s audit laid out steps for the board to take to prevent mismanagement from occurring again.

“There’s going to be a lot of changes,” Shepard said.

He also said he’s optimistic for the district’s future. “I think it is going to improve dramatically.”

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is currently investigating the audit’s findings.

The the ambulance district is located in Butler and Ripley Counties.

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