In July of 2019, Creola Mayor William Criswell met with the Mobile County District Attorney’sOffice with concerns over potential over-payments received by former City Clerk Kim Green and former Chief of Police Jerry Taylor. Our office subsequently proceeded to launch a formal investigation.
The investigation revealed that both Green and Taylor received numerous unexplained checks from Creola during times that were not consistent with scheduled pay periods or typical reimbursement procedures. They also received duplicate checks during certain pay periods. These payments occurred between January 2013 and March of 2017.
After the complaint was brought to our office, we contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the US Attorney’s Office and were made aware that Kim Green had been under investigation since February of 2017. The FBI shared information with our office to assist in our investigation, and we moved forward with State indictments as soon as possible after the completion of our investigation.
On December 18th, a Mobile County Grand Jury returned indictments against both Green and Taylor. Each will face 2 felony charges of (1) Theft in the 1st Degree and (2) Using Public Office for Personal Gain. Former Creola City Clerk Kim Green is alleged to have stolen over $39,000.00 and former Police Chief Jerry Taylor is alleged to have stolen over $29,000.00.
Both Defendants were taken into custody on Friday, December 20, 2019, and are awaiting arraignment dates in State court. The State charges are independent of the Federal information that was filed on December 18, 2019, in Federal Court. The victims, in this case, are the hard-working, tax-paying citizens of Creola and Prichard.
Anyone with further information regarding the criminal conduct of either of these individuals is asked to call the District Attorney’s Office at 251-574-8400.
Media inquiries can be directed to nancymanlangit@mobileda.org or (251) 222-3592