Fleet manager was already under investigation

Hernando Today has learned the county audit department, acting on concerns expressed by Department of Public Works Director Charles Mixson, was already conducting an internal investigation into former fleet manager Jack Stepongzi about two months prior to his admission of accepting money on the side from a parts dealer.

"We've been investigating Jack for awhile," Mixson said. "We had some concerns and we turned it over to (County Administrator David Hamilton) and the audit department."

Mixson did not elaborate for fear of jeopardizing the investigation. But he did say that some of those concerns dealt with fraud and "misdealings."

Mixson said Stepongzi's admission of accepting money from a Texas supplier of global positioning units was unexpected.

"That was out of the blue, but it sort of follows some of our suspicions," Mixson said.

Following this latest incident, Mixson said he and Hamilton will consider hiring an outside consultant to look through past audits and do a review of the fleet department's efficiency and programs.

After both of these audits and recommendations are complete, Mixson said he would consider hiring a new fleet manager.

In the interim, Mixson said Assistant DPW Director Steve Whitaker will assist him with fleet operations.

"My concern is that fleet is running properly and we are headed in the right direction," Mixson said.

Stepongzi resigned late Friday, one day after admitting to a Hernando Today reporter that he was accepting 10 percent commissions on the purchase of GPS units from Texas-based Velocity between December 2007 and July 2008.

In all, Stepongzi said he had received $332.

Just two hours after that interview, Hamilton had ordered Stepongzi escorted out of his office. His county computer was locked down, freezing all information needed for review.

Commissioner Jim Adkins told Hernando Today he is conducting an independent review, with the assistance of Mixson, of the fleet department and that he hoped to have more information on operations at an upcoming commission meeting.

Adkins said he feared Stepongzi may not be the only employee in that department engaging in questionable purchasing methods.