Attorney General calls state government probe an ongoing investigation

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — The latest case involves a Department of Revenue worker who is accused of manipulating the system to benefit themselves financially.

“Our focus has narrowed to transactions involving a state employee trying to avoid paying a tax by designating the sale of a new vehicle to a trade-in, which reduces the tax consequences,” said Jackley.

So far, the unnamed worker at the Department of Revenue accused of avoiding the higher vehicle tax hasn’t been charged with a crime but has been fired.

It appears this was limited to the employee at this time, but Jackley says it is early on in the investigation. According to Jackley, agents are investigating other matters in the Department of Revenue and have uncovered other financial discrepancies that are now being reviewed for potential charges. But that’s not all; Jackley tells us other investigations are underway in different phases involving state employees or state funds in other government agencies.

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“Those are sometimes early on in the investigation, and oftentimes it is difficult as Attorney General to determine, does it rise to the level of the criminal is so serious is it where somebody is inappropriately taken taxpayer dollars or is it one of good government,” said Jackley. “In other words, those dollars could have been spent better in the mind of the Attorney General but not necessarily rising to the level of criminal.”

Jackley says it is important to give his agents more time to complete the work they’ve started.When asked if he expects more criminal charges from these investigations, Jackley told us he does.