Governor Carney Appoints Dennis Greenhouse as Auditor of Accounts

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor Carney on Thursday announced that he will appoint Dennis Greenhouse to serve as Auditor of Accounts for the State of Delaware. Greenhouse will serve in this role until such time as the person duly elected at the upcoming election on November 8th takes office in January 2023.

 

“We’re grateful that Dennis is willing to serve the State of Delaware as the Auditor of Accounts, an office that he previously held,” said Governor Carney. “As Auditor, he will be tasked with completing the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report over the next several months. Because of his experience, I’m confident that Dennis is right person for the job and can hit the ground running.”

 

Greenhouse has previously served as the Auditor of Delaware, elected in 1982. He later served as New Castle County Executive, Assistant Associate Director of the Bureau of State and Local Affairs at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, and various positions at the United States Department of Justice including Deputy Director of Community Oriented Policing Service, Deputy Director of the Office of Victims of Crimes, and Director of the Community Capacity Development Office.

 

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State Auditor McGuiness Releases Special Report Analyzing Overdose Data Dashboard

DOVER, Del. – State Auditor Kathy McGuiness announced today the release of a special report titled “Falling Short During the Opioid Crisis? Delaware’s Overdose Dashboard”. This special report reviewed Delaware’s current drug overdose deaths data dashboard to determine if enhancements are needed that would positively affect the end user experience and better inform the response to substance abuse issues in the state.

“The opioid crisis has taken a major toll on the lives of families across our state with Delaware ranked 3rd in the nation for drug overdose mortality in 2020,” Auditor McGuiness said. “Communication is key to increased preparedness and awareness for communities to counter the complex challenges of drug addiction. Concerned residents must have data at their fingertips and that data must be relevant for the prevention and treatment assistance so desperately needed by local Delaware communities.”

Under Delaware Code 2909, the State Auditor may produce special reports that examine state agencies’ performance and offer recommendations for greater accuracy and efficiency, as well as data, information, and recommendations the State Auditor deems advisable and necessary.

The opioid crisis is a major concern in the United States and Delaware’s state agencies have prioritized efforts to attack the issue at its roots as well as combat the aftermath of illicit opioids, yet the mortality rate in Delaware remains among the highest in the country. Designing a data dashboard that meets the needs of those using the information requires an understanding of the user’s perspective and proper coverage of the scope of the problem Delaware faces in combating drug overdose deaths.

“Publishing statistics in a timely and comprehensive manner conveys to the public that the issue is real, dangerous, and that the State is committed to action. Drug overdose mortality is one statistic where the First State must not become first” McGuiness said.

The new special report, “Falling Short During the Opioid Crisis? Delaware’s Overdose Dashboard” can be found here.

Learn about the Delaware Auditor’s Office at https://auditor.delaware.gov.

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Contact: Tori Parker, Deputy Auditor
tori.parker@delaware.gov


State Auditor Kathy McGuiness and Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro Partner for a Fraud Town Hall

DOVER, DELAWARE – Delaware State Auditor Kathy McGuiness and Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro together will host a virtual Fraud Town Hall via Facebook live on Wednesday, October 21, 2020 beginning at 3:00 pm.

The Auditor’s Office and the Department of Insurance want to jointly raise awareness of the types of fraud schemes both agencies regularly encounter and ways consumers can protect themselves from becoming victims.

“Over the past several months, we’ve seen an increase in fraud complaints brought on by the coronavirus pandemic,” said State Auditor Kathy McGuiness. “Our responsibility as a watchdog is to ensure proper safeguards and internal controls are in place to combat it.”

“As the largest consumer protection office in the state, the Department of Insurance reviews more than 525 fraud referrals a year, filing 531 civil and 15 criminal cases last year,” said Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro. “With new technologies entering the insurance and healthcare arena, and Open Enrollment for Medicare and the Affordable Care Act taking place in the coming months, it is more important than ever that we work together to detect, prevent, and respond to fraud.”

Delawareans are understandably fearful of the repercussions from the health and economic crisis and rightfully want to know what their elected officials are doing to protect them from fraud and scams. The Fraud Town Hall will provide them answers.

Watch live at FB.me/DeTv302.

Learn about the Delaware Auditor’s Office and Department of Insurance online at https://auditor.delaware.gov and https://insurance.delaware.gov/.

Contact: Alaina Sewell, Executive Assistant, Alaina.Sewell@delaware.gov, 302-857-3931

 


FBI Recognizes Two Auditors for Critical Role in Investigations

(Dover, Delaware) – On October 18, 2018, the Federal Bureau of Investigation formally recognized two employees of the Office of Auditor of Accounts (AOA) for their assistance with two cases.  Auditors Nicole Polite and Stephenie Tatman played a key role in the investigation that led to former Academy of Dover Charter School Principal, Noel Rodriguez, being sentenced to 13 months of imprisonment and $145,480 in restitution payments.  Additionally, Polite and Tatman conducted the investigation of the Family Foundations Academy which led to Sean Moore, the Director of Finance and Operations for the Family Foundations Academy, being sentenced to 18 months of imprisonment for embezzling $161,871 from the school.

R. Thomas Wagner stated, “Without the work of Stephenie and Nicole, the arrest and prosecution of both Rodriguez and Moore might not have been possible.  Our auditors work day in and day out to protect the tax dollars of Delawareans, and I am thankful for the contributions that Stephenie and Nicole had in bringing these violators of the public trust to justice.”

Nicole Polite, a Certified Fraud Examiner, has been employed with the AOA office since 2014.  She is currently an Audit Supervisor.

Stephenie Tatman, a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Fraud Examiner, was hired by the AOA office in 2007 and was promoted to Audit Manager.  She is currently the Internal Audit Director for the Office of Pensions.

Contact: Deputy Auditor James Spadola
James.spadola@delaware.gov
Office: 302.857.3946
Cell:  302.746.2584


State Auditor R. Thomas Wagner, Jr. releases the Providence Creek Academy Charter School Inspection report.

January 27, 2016

Dover, Del. – State Auditor R. Thomas Wagner, Jr.’s Office performed an inspection of the Providence Creek Academy Charter School (PCA) regarding allegations of fiscal improprieties. Several months after AOA received its first tip on the fraud hotline, representatives from PCA met with AOA staff to share their concerns regarding inappropriate handling of school funds by Shanna Simmens, the former Finance and Human Resource Manager. AOA found PCA’s deficient fiscal operations and close network of personnel led to a misuse of school funds.

“Our inspection identified over $247,000 in various personal purchases, unsupported transactions, and non-compliance from July 1, 2011 through December 31, 2014,” said Wagner.

There was no mention of any issues by the PCA’s audit firm, SB & Company, LLC, that issued unqualified opinions with no findings on internal control or compliance over financial reporting for fiscal years 2012, 2013, and 2014.

Additional information about the report can be found at: Providence Creek Academy Charter School Inspection report.

For more information, please contact Kathleen A. Davies, CPA-PA, CISA, CGFM, CGAP, CFE, Chief Administrative Auditor/Deputy, at 302-857-3919 or kathleen.davies@delaware.gov.