Former Pemiscot County School Employee Admits Embezzling
(Cape Girardeau, Mo.) A former employee of the North Pemiscot County R-1 School District is admitting embezzling $1.46 million from the district. 64 year old Tammy Louise Barnes,of Pemiscot County, pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau to three counts of bank fraud. Barnes admitted that between December 13th of 2018, and June 3rd of 2024, she transferred money from the district’s bank account to her own account in about 57 different electronic transactions. According to her plea she stole a total of $1,467,247.49. As an employee, Barnes had access to the district’s bank account in order to pay legitimate school expenses. The Missouri United School Insurance Council (MUSIC) covered $1 million of the loss. At sentencing, Barnes will be ordered to repay the money. She’ll first have to reimburse the district $467,247 and then repay the Insurance Council. Barnes is scheduled to be sentenced on February 18th. Each charge carries a potential penalty of up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both prison and a fine.
