An investigation by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office revealed Claiborne County inmates and litter patrol officers received nearly $24,000 in cash over two years from selling scrap metal, which should have been paid directly to the county.

Investigators only looked at records from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2018, but the litter patrol officers and inmates said it was a long-standing practice for the littler patrol to collect scrap metal and use it to buy inmates lunches, snacks, drinks and tobacco products.

State law requires that money collected from scrap metal sold by a governmental entity be made by check or money order to the governmental entity and mailed to their business address.

The comptroller says this has resulted in lost revenue for the county.

The Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office has now begun depositing checks from the sale of scrap metal with the county trustee.