Louisiana State Police Bureau of Investigation/Alexandria Field Office (LSP AFO) arrested Margaruette M. Hilton Beard (W/F 66 yrs) of Elmer, LA, after an audit revealed missing funds.

Prior to LSP’s investigation, Louisiana Legislative Auditors were requested by the Rapides Parish District Attorney’s Office to conduct an audit of their asset forfeiture account. The audit revealed that approximately $500,000 of asset forfeiture money did not appear to have been deposited. The audit is still ongoing and these figures are expected to rise.

LSP AFO Troopers received information in October 2015 from the Rapides Parish District Attorney’s Office in reference to an internal theft committed by an employee. Based on information obtained from the investigation, Troopers secured an arrest warrant charging Beard with felony theft, first degree injuring public records, and malfeasance in office.

Beard was then booked into the Rapides Parish Detention Center.

Beard was employed as the bookkeeper from 1988-2015. Her duty was to keep financial records for the asset forfeiture account.