A Hogansville woman who managed payroll for Troup County allegedly diverted over half a million dollars of government funds to her personal accounts by exploiting the identities of former employees.
💰 Why It Matters: This case represents one of the largest alleged embezzlement schemes by a local government employee in the area, affecting taxpayer money meant for public services in a county that receives federal funding.
🔍 The Scheme: Federal prosecutors say Wesleigh Gaddy, 35, created fake payments to over 75 former county employees between March 2023 and May 2025, but directed the money to just three bank accounts she controlled.
- The scheme unraveled when a sheriff’s deputy noticed unexplained payments listed under his name in an employee portal for periods when he wasn’t employed by the county
- A subsequent review of county payroll records revealed hundreds of suspicious payments totaling more than $500,000
⚖️ Legal Proceedings: Gaddy appeared in federal court in Newnan on charges of theft from a program receiving federal funds after a complaint was filed on July 3. When interviewed by investigators, Gaddy allegedly admitted to stealing the funds and sending them to her own accounts.
🔎 Between the Lines: The scheme went undetected for over two years despite involving dozens of former employees’ identities, raising questions about financial oversight within the county government.
⚠️ Reminder: Crime articles contain only charges and information from police reports and law enforcement statements. Suspects and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Before You Dismiss This Article…
We live in a time when information feels overwhelming, but here’s what hasn’t changed: facts exist whether they comfort us or not.
When A&W launched their third-pound burger to compete with McDonald’s Quarter Pounder in the 1980s, it failed spectacularly. Not because it tasted worse, but because customers thought 1/3 was smaller than 1/4. If basic math can trip us up, imagine how easily we can misread complex news.
The press isn’t against you when it reports something you don’t want to hear. Reporters are thermometers, not the fever itself. They’re telling you what verified sources are saying, not taking sides. Good reporting should challenge you — that’s literally the job.
Next time a story makes you angry, pause. Ask yourself: What evidence backs this up? Am I reacting with my brain or my gut? What would actually change my mind? And most importantly, am I assuming bias just because the story doesn’t match what I hoped to hear.
Smart readers choose verified information over their own comfort zone.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
