Support Money Missing Funds Disappear From Cda Office; Worker Put On Leave

Some child-support money appears to be missing from the Coeur d’Alene office of the state Department of Health and Welfare, and the department may pursue criminal charges.

One child-support collection employee has been placed on paid leave while the department investigates “an irregularity,” said department spokesman David Ensunsa. “We’re concerned to find out and get to the bottom of what’s happened up there.”

Ensunsa said no families have been denied their support payments.

The state has noted receipt of child-support checks (copies of the checks are sent by fax to the Boise office) and has issued its own checks to the custodial parents.

But a number of the checks the state received in Coeur d’Alene apparently never were deposited in a bank.

“Everyone is getting their child-support payments,” Ensunsa said. “It’s the state that’s out the money.”

Ensunsa gave no estimate of the amount of missing funds, but state Rep. Marvin Vandenberg, D-Coeur d’Alene, said a “whistleblower” had told him eight deposits totaling $30,000 are missing.

“I have some real concerns with it,” said Vandenberg, who serves on the Legislative Oversight Committee which oversees state agencies.

Vandenberg said he plans to place the matter on the agenda for the committee’s next meeting.

Ensunsa said the department became aware of the problem in mid-March and launched its investigation.

“As soon as we conclude our investigation, we’ll turn over our findings to the county prosecutor’s office,” he said. “Criminal charges are being considered.”

, DataTimes