A onetime DeKalb County inspector has admitted to stealing cash as part of a scheme that also may land other former workers in jail.
Dameco Moss, who worked for the county’s Watershed Management Department, admitted this week to pocketing money that several local restaurant owners paid in exchange for environmental permits that regulate how the eateries dispose of fats, oil and grease. Moss is now serving six months in DeKalb jail for his felony theft admission and skipping the inspections, but he may soon have company.
“We’re looking into how deep this problem goes,” said District Attorney Robert James. “I suspect what we saw in this case is not the end of it. It’s larger than this one case is my suspicion.”
The county began investigating a possible scam after a restaurant owner came forward in 2009 and complained that he’d been offered a discount on his permit if he paid in cash.
Moss and the two other former workers -- Roderick Stallworth and Sherod Williams – were fired after an internal investigation revealed the trio had issued permits but could not account for payments, according to county records.
The lack of documentation was especially unusual given that the three had a combined 30 years' experience. Moss and Williams were long-time department employees, with 15 and 11 years on the job, respectively. Stallworth had worked for watershed for four years.
“Theft is not tolerated,” said county spokesman Burke Brennan. “There is an environmental concern as well as a real concern about honesty and integrity.”
The scheme could have environmental repercussions if the lack of inspections let a problem site go unreported. Grease clogs are one of the primary causes of sewer blockages and leaks in the county.
In December, the federal Environmental Protection Agency ordered DeKalb to upgrade its sewer system after reporting more than 800 raw sewage spills in five years. The work is expected to cost $1.35 billion.
“This is someone unjustly enriching themselves at the expense of the taxpayer,” James said. “We are greatly concerned there are more people out there who are or were doing this.”
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