Sheriff Legally Steals $750K From Prisoner's Food Fund & Buys $740K Beach House
Entrekin claimed it under an obscure pre-WWII law
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A sheriff has pocketed an eye-watering $750,000 from an inmate 'food fund', which was meant to feed prisoners, and bought himself a lavish beach house.
Etowah County Sheriff Todd Entrekin legally filled more than $250,000' of extra 'compensation' with the Alabama Ethics Commission derived firm the inmate feeding funds.
Entrekin claimed it under an obscure pre-WWII law, that allows Alabama sheriffs to retain excess' prison food funds for themselves.
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The windfall may be a lot more like anything over $250,000 in a year doesn't have to be reported according to Birmingham News
DailyMail reports: The cash was used to add a $740,000 four-bedroom beach house in the affluent town of Orange Beach near Pensacola to his $1.7 million real estate portfolio in September.
The house has 2.5 bathrooms, timber floors, a modern kitchen, wraparound porch, double garage, in-ground pool, and canal access with a boat dock.
Sheriff Entrekin and his wife Karen were able to amass at least six houses around the state despite him earning a salary of just $93,178.80.
The prison food funds came from federal, state, and local government taxpayers, but unlike other states did not have to be handed back if not used.
The lawman was so brazen about keeping the cash he paid Etowah handyman Matthew Qualls to mow his lawn with a cheque marked Sheriff Todd Entrekin Food Provision Account'.
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The house has 2.5 bathrooms, timber floors, a modern kitchen, wraparound porch, double garage, in-ground pool, and canal access with a boat dock.
Sheriff Entrekin maintained keeping the money as he pleased was legal, despite growing condemnation and an ongoing statewide lawsuit.
'The law says it's a personal account and that's the way I've always done it and that's the way the law reads and that's the way I do business. That's the way the law's written,' he said.
'In regards to feeding of inmates, we utilize a registered dietitian to ensure adequate meals are provided daily.
'Alabama law is clear as to my personal financial responsibilities in the feeding of inmates. Regardless of one's opinion of this statute, until the legislature acts otherwise, the Sheriff must follow the current law.'
Sheriff Entrekin's opponent at this year's sheriff election, Rainbow City Police Chief Jonathon Horton, said taxpayer funds should benefit taxpayers.
'There's been a tremendous amount of money left over that shouldn't be used as a bonus check,' he said.
