City of Rome releases statement on building inspection investigation

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Authorities accused a former Rome-Floyd County Building Inspection manager on Wednesday with the theft of more than $121,000, saying she pocketed money paid for building permits.

Deanna Dennis-Fain, 43, is charged with one count of theft by conversion, Rome police said. Arrested in DeKalb County, Dennis-Fain was picked up by deputies and booked into the Floyd County Jail on Wednesday night. She had no bond.

Former customer service manager Dennis-Fain resigned her job in March 2014, just weeks after Rome police began investigating theft allegations in her office.

Police later called in the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s forensic accounting unit because of the number of records that required probing, city records and police state.

When asked, City Manager Sammy Rich said Dennis-Fain is accused of pocketing money builders paid for permits. The allegations against her led city officials to change their permitting process and how deposits are made.

“And we went so far as to install security cameras,” Rich added.

It’s unknown how long the alleged theft occurred. The building inspection office is operated with the money it collects from fees. No taxpayer dollars are used in its operation, Rich said.

“The city has several hundred excellent employees that go the extra mile,” Mayor Jamie Doss said. “It is always unfortunate when we uncover any criminal act. The city will not tolerate theft, whether it is large or small.”

The recent allegations aren’t the first time Dennis-Fain has faced accusations of impropriety. She was placed on administrative leave with pay in late 2006 and later terminated after an internal investigation.

Former city manager John Bennett reduced her punishment in January 2007, giving her a 30-day suspension, two years’ probation and requiring her to pay $200 to the city of Rome scholarship fund, city records state.

According to a summary of the earlier internal investigation:

Dennis-Fain lied during the investigation, accepted money from former building inspection director Mike Ashley for her role in deceptively approving permits for some homes, and she created a false document to replace an original.

Ashley, previously under investigation, resigned in lieu of termination in November 2006, around the same time Dennis-Fain was put on administrative leave.

Bennett at the time said Ashley was involved in local construction projects — a conflict of interest for the person who inspects and permits such projects.

Previously posted: The city of Rome released the following statement regarding an investigation into the building inspection department:

ROME, GA. — Early in 2014, certain irregularities, within the City of Rome Building Inspection Department, were brought to the attention of the City of Rome management. As a result, the Rome Police Department began investigating allegations of theft. When the improprieties were discovered in early 2014, policy changes were implemented within the Building Inspection Department such as the permit issuance process, revised cash handling policy, dual deposit review, and the installation of security cameras.

Based on the nature of the allegations, the assistance of a Forensic Accountant with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation was requested. The GBI has concluded its investigation and informed the City of Rome Police Department that the documentation supports the allegation that more than $121,000 of City of Rome funds were converted to personal use.

 The Rome Floyd County Building Inspection Department serves all of Rome and Floyd County by providing building inspection and code enforcement services. The City of Rome refers all questions regarding the criminal prosecution to the District Attorney’s Office.

Previously posted: A former employee of the building inspection office was arrested today after police said she converted more than $121,000 of City of Rome funds to her own use, Rome police reported.

According to a news release from Sgt. Joe Costolnick, an investigator with the RPD:

In February of 2014 the Rome Police Department began investigating allegations of theft from the Rome-Floyd Building Inspection Department. Due to the large amount of records to be analyzed, the services of a Forensic Accountant with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation were requested.

At the conclusion of the investigation it was determined that former City of Rome Building Inspection employee, Deanna Dennis-Fain, converted more than $121,000 of City of Rome funds to her own use and was charged with one felony count of theft by conversion.

On April 22, 2015, with the assistance of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, she was taken into custody. The investigation is ongoing and no additional information will be disseminated at this time.

Source: Rome News

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