Former Chatham County employee arrested on kickback case

Posted Saturday, March 18, 2006

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Siler City, NC - Randie Russell, 50, of 411 Greenhill Drive, Siler City, and a former Chatham County Animal Control employee was arrested on Thursday afternoon by the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office. Detective Mike Szpunar of the Sheriff’s Criminal Investigation Division conducted the investigation. Russell is accused of taking kickbacks from a Florida cleaning supply company in return for buying its products at inflated prices.

Detective Szpunar completed the case last week and presented the results to the District Attorney.

Russell allegedly bought $3,768.78 worth of cleaning products with county money and took $350 in gift certificates from 2000 to 2003. Stone Cold Chemical was shut down in March 2003, when investigators in Florida and Georgia searched its offices and seized documents and computers that detailed the transactions.

Russell turned herself in upon request and was charged with 1 count of Felonious Buying and Selling Offices. This is a violation of Article 31 of the General Statutes, Misconduct in Public Office. She was released on a written promise and is scheduled to appear in Chatham County District Court in Siler City on April 4.