GBI arrests former deputy tax commissioner

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Staff Writer
in News Links, Top Stories
Friday, February 19. 2010
Comments (33)
Agents with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in Athens and officers with the Banks County Sheriff’s Office arrested former Banks County Deputy Tax Commissioner Lori Ann Slaton, age 41, of Homer, on Friday charging her with seven felony counts of computer fraud and one felony count of violation of oath of public officer.

Slaton was arrested after an investigation revealed that she had intentionally lowered vehicle ad valorem taxes for several acquaintances by altering bills on a county computer, the GBI reports.

Banks County Sheriff Charles Chapman requested GBI Athens’ assistance in the investigation after he was informed on February 18, 2010. Slaton was terminated later on February 18, 2010.

Slaton was booked into the Banks County Jail where she awaits release on bond. The investigation is continuing.

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#1 Anonymous on 02/19/10 at 11:44 PM [Reply]
Somebody needs to investigate the tax commissioner's office. There are people who pay less than $1.00 in property tax.
#1.1 bewildered on 02/21/10 at 07:00 PM [Reply]
What ever happened to the missing $14000.00 that wasn't deposited in the bank? How come we the citizens of Banks county don't hear anymore about it? Is this a cover up by our elected officals?
#1.2 Anon on 02/22/10 at 12:47 AM [Reply]
Property tax is calculated based on exemptions (homestead) and age. If your property is valued low enough, it is possible to owe next to nothing in taxes. Homestead allows you to pay 40% of the value of your property, so if you are elderly you get other exemptions to. It is possible to get that down to a dollar or less.
#2 concerned on 02/20/10 at 03:47 PM [Reply]
About time!!!!!! Who's next? Marget Ausburn? What ever happened to the missing $14000.00? Have'nt heard anymore about it. Have you?
#3 tammy on 02/21/10 at 11:25 AM [Reply]
What ever happen about the deposit that was missing?
#4 Anonymous on 02/22/10 at 08:03 AM [Reply]
I'm just curious to know how this will be justified. I'm sure there will be some grand excuse and all will be forgiven.
#5 also anon on 02/22/10 at 11:15 AM [Reply]
the GBI doesn't arrest people that they think can be just "forgiven" and felonies are usually not "justified" and then forgotten. hows that for sarcasm???
do you think you would know about this if it was being covered up???
#5.1 Anonymous on 02/22/10 at 12:07 PM [Reply]
No where in my comment did I have anything about a "cover-up" nor was I implying that there was one. I personally don't know how the GBI operates, never have had an encouter with them. But when people make stupid choices they have to deal with the consequences and that may very well be "sarcasm". The "deputy tax commisioner" should have been doing her job!
#5.2 Anonymous on 02/22/10 at 12:48 PM [Reply]
Sarcasm - NO
Lesson in GBI and felonies - YES
#6 Anonymous on 02/22/10 at 11:01 PM [Reply]
she will get probation and have to pay restitution
#6.1 tired of government on 02/23/10 at 01:33 PM [Reply]
She will not be in any trouble because of who she knows. She may not even have to pay restitution. The county is in trouble financially so they will cover for her.
#6.1.1 disgusted on 02/23/10 at 02:38 PM [Reply]
I am disgusted with the whole system. I paid my taxes on time and then received a bill with late fees, went and talked to Margaret herself and she found an error and supposedly corrected it but then 9 months later found out that my payment was still not posted. What ever happened to checks and balances and doublechecking behind employees and someone being held accountable? And then we are offered the opportunity to pay our taxes early because the millage rate wasn't approved on time? I DON'T THINK SO! I may be from Banks County but I ain't stupid!
#7 Etienne on 02/23/10 at 11:25 AM [Reply]
I could care less to be honest wish that we all would get lowered and the county would spend less keeping inmates in the JAIL, only keep violent inmates and let the rest go!!!!! less employees means less taxes and people being dope heads and sexual purveyors of self is thier business not mine or yours and certainly not the POLICE please work on protecting propery and persons that want to be kept safe and locking up a dopehead or speeder or a person not having insurance does not keep me or my family safe, I would rther someone had insurance fee to fix car than pay insurance company fee rather than fix car.
LESS TAXES means less county Employees YAYAYAYAYA HOOOOO
#7.1 rodger on 02/23/10 at 01:52 PM [Reply]
You make no sense at all I hope my tax dollars didn't pay for your education.
#7.2 call the po po on 02/23/10 at 05:45 PM [Reply]
First off, next time you want to go and post something to the public please do us all a favor and pick up a websters dictionary. Im sure if you go down to the dollar general you can get one real cheap. Also, learn a little grammer. Do you actually think someone would ever be able to take you seriously with that so-called english crap you just spat out. So before you go commenting next time do us all a favor and pick up the dictionary. And if you have a problem with a dictionary they have this awesome feature on your computer called spell check. Maybe you should check into it. Do society a favor and don't open your mouth next time. And if you think the jail is not important, next time you have somebody break into your house, steal something from you, or you get hit don't go calling 911. And if you have such a problem with how things are ran why don't you get off your lazy bum and go out and do something about it instead of just running your mouth all over town.
#7.2.1 Call the GRAMMAR po po on 02/24/10 at 12:07 PM [Reply]
Actually, the appropriate use of your last sentence would be "And if you have a problem with how things are RUN..", not how things are RAN. Also,it is spelled GRAMMAR, not GRAMMER.
Check yourself before you go criticizing other people!
#8 Anonymous on 02/24/10 at 01:51 AM [Reply]
the next election margaret auburn has to go one way or another she is a @@@@@@@ idiot
#8.1 Lb on 02/25/10 at 10:40 PM [Reply]
And you are a moron! Can you really expect to be taken seriously talking like that with all the"@"s?
#9 happy on 02/24/10 at 05:31 AM [Reply]
i hope that she does get put in jail for a long time. if Margaret had been doing her job right, this would have never happened in the first place. we put our trust in these people to do their job right and then they don't do it. its sad that we cant even trust our tax commissioner. and what did happen to that $14,000, why did the GBI stop investigating that. that money needs to be found and whoever was responsible for losing it in the first place also needs to be punished. when it comes time for electing another tax commissioner, do us all a favor Margaret, and dont run. we need somebody who is going to do their job right, somebody we can trust.
#9.1 Also anon on 02/25/10 at 10:26 PM [Reply]
Margaret is not the one who comitted the crime!!!!! Yes, she is in charge but she can not control the actions of others. All of you people should stop throwing stones!!!!! We don't know all the story yet so get off your high horse!!!!!!!
#9.1.1 To Also above - on 02/27/10 at 11:12 AM [Reply]
My hard earned (and I mean hard earned) taxes pay these peoples salaries. When they lie (reporting the $14000 loss ONE day after re-election), steal (modify tax records) loaf (spend my tax dollar to run to Quality Foods) I can say anything I want! And I say it every day, Listen to the stranger standing in line at Wal-mart you'll hear me! Do I hear RECALL!!
#9.1.1.1 back at you on 03/02/10 at 11:59 AM [Reply]
You just keep on running your mouth at Walmart, I could care less, and my money is just as hard earned as yours so i can anything I want also.
My comment to you is just that you shouldn't blame everyone in the office for what one employee did or is charged with doing. Nor am i saying that they don't make mistakes in that office. My point is that since I'm guessing that you are not employed there and I'm guessing that you are not a part of the law inforcement/GBI that is investigating this then you don't know the whole story now do you??? But I'm sure you THINK you do so go ahead.
#10 Anonymous on 02/24/10 at 06:41 AM [Reply]
Yeah..."don't go calling 911", is also not correct grammar. Good job professor. Please teach us more.
#11 etienne on 02/24/10 at 02:54 PM [Reply]
hmmm seems that money disappeared around the move time from the old building to the new one, hhmmm wonder how many jail laborers it took to move our money and records, well at least in jail they can only pass private information to others. maybe the 14000 is stashed till the inmate makes bail for being a dope head then how high can he get!!!!
#11.1 to many know it all's in this county.... on 02/24/10 at 07:21 PM [Reply]
seems to me you know so much about everything. why don't you just clean banks county up....fix all the problems and make this a perfect place to live....
#12 Jo on 02/25/10 at 01:30 PM [Reply]
Looks like Margaret done her Job, She caught the lowered vehicle ad valorem.
#12.1 concerned on 02/25/10 at 06:34 PM [Reply]
Jo, Why didn't Margaret find her own mistake with the missing 14000.00? Maybe finally she is running a little scared to keep the heat off her! I say the whole department needs to be investigated!
#12.1.1 amazed on 02/26/10 at 10:28 AM [Reply]
oh yeah, sherlock, you figered it out! She wants to keep the heat off of her and her office so she REPORTS THE CRIME! Thats such a good way for her to keep the heat off!
#12.1.2 amonymous on 02/26/10 at 11:37 AM [Reply]
I know Margaret and I'm sure that she would be the first to invite anyone to investigate her office. She has proudly served this county for decades and does not deserve all these hateful and hurtful comments. Because of her position, she has to take the blame for other peoples actions even though she was not at fault.
#13 #13 on 02/25/10 at 03:49 PM [Reply]
That was a stupid comment made about an inmate having the money. The article everyone is repsonding to above is the prime example that those who we put so much trust in and think they do no wrong, those are the ones we need to watch. Everyone in jail is not all bad. Have I been to jail? Yes, because of the croode @@@ D.A. that we used to have. As a society, we need to stop being so judgemental. We are all capable of wrong because we are all human beings.
#13.1 Anonymous on 02/26/10 at 09:28 PM [Reply]
Human or not, what she did was wrong and it's just as bad as stealing. Simple as that and they should throw the book at her!
#14 concerned taxpayer on 03/02/10 at 07:10 AM [Reply]
And maybe if people really knew some of the details they are trying to piece together..?? Maybe you would then see some insight into the situation... yes, Margaret was doing her job. And yes, the former deputy did wrongfully and willingly change her and her acquaintances ad valorem taxes. And yes, the deposit did get "misplaced" during the hustle of moving. But the former deputy tax commissioner was also in charge of those deposits. Seeing as her former boss, Margaret, chooses not to hold a valid drivers license, she therefore has to entrust her deputy or other employee to this duty. Do not judge any situation until you actually know some of the facts. And do not judge any human...until you judge yourself.
#15 etienne on 03/03/10 at 12:25 PM [Reply]
I dont think people need to go to jail that is my point I also dont think free labor of prisoners is needed I also think that goverment workers are far too many and get paid far more than the same jobs in private sector.
STOP sending people to jail for no insurance, stop hiring people to gaurd peole that shouldnt be in JAIL. stop arresting people just to make people feel safe.
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