Federal Investigation Coming Into Former Center City Clerk

Federal embezzlement charges may be on the horizon for Center’s former city clerk.

A statement was issued Wednesday by Ralls County Prosecuting Attorney Rodney Rodenbaugh regarding the recently released audit of the city of Center.

The audit alleged that former clerk Tracey Ray had misappropriated city funds to the tune of over $316,000 over a period of five years.

Rodenbaugh said that, although the state of Missouri has a three year statute of limitations on this kind of crime, federal statutes are not as restrictive.

Rodenbaugh said he has been in discussions with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri, and that that office will lead a federal investigation into Ray’s conduct while serving as City Clerk.

Ray is currently facing charges in connection with a shooting incident involving the Ralls County Sheriff and Chief Deputy the day before she was fired as city clerk in July of last year.