Louisiana Legislative Auditor
Daryl G. Purpera, CPA, CFE

June 12, 2017

$54,957 in Wildlife and Fisheries' Equipment for BP Tissue Sampling Program Missing

Auditors were unable to find $54,957 in fishing and other sports equipment the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries bought for the British Petroleum Tissue Sampling Program because the Department no longer has the equipment, the Legislative Auditor said in a report released today.

The investigative audit was a follow-up to an earlier review by the state auditor that found state property was missing from the Department and LDWF did not have adequate financial or operational oversight over the nearshore segment of the BP Tissue Sampling Program.

Investigative auditors said records and employee statements indicated that two former LDWF staff members used Department credit cards to buy most of the fishing and sports equipment. In addition, the two kept the equipment at LDWF’s Venice camp, where they lodged, and failed to record and safeguard the equipment. After the two employees resigned in January 2014, LDWF staff members were unable to find the equipment.

Auditors were able to identify items totaling $19,762 (nearly 36 percent of the $54,957) that matched the description of some of the missing equipment that either was in the former employees’ possession or that had been placed online for sale.

In addition, auditors found that the two former employees may have received or asked for items of economic value from vendors who had or were seeking financial relationships with LDWF. Under state law, public servants are not permitted to solicit or receive anything of economic value from entities that do business or want to do business with the state.

For more information contact:

Legislative Auditor
225.339.3800



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Office of the Louisiana Legislative Auditor | www.LLA.La.gov