A former Mississippi alderman and his cousin are accused of making taxpayers cover a $9,950 sewer line installation at the former official’s private home, according to the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor.
William Daniel Davis, who previously served on Guntown’s Board of Aldermen, and Robert Lee Davis, a former city public works operator, were arrested on Oct. 13, 2026, after an investigation by the auditor’s office. The two men are cousins.
The disputed work took place between October and November 2024, nearly two years before the arrests. Investigators characterized the arrangement as a conspiracy to bill the municipality for private residential construction.
The arrests involve suspected fraud or embezzlement in public office. Both men face potential criminal penalties if convicted, but the allegations have not been resolved in court.
Sewer Line at Former Alderman’s Home Allegedly Billed to Guntown
The auditor described the installation cost as a loss to the city, rather than a cash payout identified as going directly to either defendant. The public announcement does not identify the contractor who performed the work or describe who submitted or approved the bill.
Mississippi Law Allows Up to 10 Years for Fraud in Public Office
The auditor’s office characterized the accusations against both men as fraud or embezzlement in public office. Under Mississippi Code Section 97-11-31, an officer or someone employed in a public office who commits fraud or embezzlement there can face up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000, or both.
The auditor’s public announcement does not specify the individual filed counts against either defendant.
Municipal Financial Records Must Show How Public Money Is Spent
Mississippi Section 21-35-11 requires municipal clerks to maintain records of each city fund, including the sources of money received and the purposes of expenditures under budget headings. The law makes those fund records available for citizens to inspect during office hours.
In a dispute over a sewer installation, an itemized work order, invoice and payment approval could show what the city was billed for and which municipal fund paid the expense. The accusation concerns the use of public money for a private property improvement, not a separately established finding that Guntown’s accounting records were falsified.
State Auditor Urges Payment Controls and Reports of Suspected Fraud
State Auditor Shad White said his office has “zero tolerance for those who think it is acceptable to steal taxpayer dollars.” In a separate fraud-prevention guide, his office recommends dividing financial responsibilities so the person signing checks is not also responsible for reconciling accounts. It also calls for monthly account reconciliations and secure, sequentially numbered purchase orders and other financial documents.
Those measures give municipalities ways to identify unexpected payments and trace them to an approved purpose. Anyone with evidence of misuse of Mississippi state or local government resources can submit dates, names and supporting records through the auditor’s fraud-reporting portal or call 1-800-321-1275 during regular business hours.