OLIVER SPRINGS, Tenn. — The former Chief Wastewater Operator in Oliver Springs was indicted by a Roane County Grand Jury after allegedly embezzling at least $1,022 of town funds to make personal purchases.
An investigation by the Tennessee Comptroller's Office and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation found that Travis Thrasher bought tires, hardware and other auto parts for a personal car.
Thrasher also made at least $2,488 worth of questionable fuel purchases. He claimed a former supervisor allowed him to use a town card to buy fuel for a personal car if it was used for town business, TCO said.
The former town manager and the former water/wastewater department supervisor said they didn't authorize fuel purchases for personal cars, according to TCO.
The TCO investigation also found $3,010 in other questionable purchases made by town employees. Those purchases include food, auto parts, gift cards and supplies that weren't allegedly supported with receipts or other documents.
On Sept. 5, Oliver Springs received a check from Thrasher totaling $3,471 for "repayment" of his personal purchases using town funds. He resigned from his position with the town on Sept. 13, TCO said.