A former Anacoco town clerk has been arrested and charged with theft and fraud after police say she misappropriated more than $70,000 from the town.
The Louisiana State Police Bureau of Investigations Alexandria Field Office arrested 48-year-old Shaunda L. Pridgen on Tuesday. Investigators say they were contacted by village officials of Anacoco in January to look into discrepancies discovered during an internal audit. The investigation revealed that Pridgen misappropriated approximately $71,000 of town funds.
Investigators obtained an arrest warrant for Pridgen and she was booked into the Vernon Parish Correctional Center on Tuesday afternoon.
Pridgen has been charged with 49 counts of misdemeanor theft, 22 counts of public payroll fraud, 58 counts of forgery, and malfeasance in office.
