Multiple Embezzlement And Forgery Counts Filed Last Week
Former State Representative Wes Hilliard, 51, of Sulphur, is facing multiple felony and misdemeanor charges after allegedly embezzling money from the Murray County Junior Livestock Show Association, documents filed March 12 show.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed with the case, Hilliard, a former Sulphur banking employee and civic leader, is alleged to have embezzled over $28,000 from the association over the course of about a year.
The investigation began shortly after a February 5 livestock show meeting where nine board members voted unanimously to seek an probe into the missing funds, documents show. At that time, Hilliard was treasurer of the committee.
Following the vote, bank statements and other documentation was turned over to the Murray County Sheriff’s Office and their findings submitted to the Murray CountyAssistant District Attorney for review. Last week, the Assistant DA’s office filed 13 felony embezzlement and forgery counts and 8 related misdemeanor charges. An additional misdemeanor charge unrelated to the missing money was also filed.
Murray County Undersheriff Ben Flowers, who was the lead investigator in the case, said he found multiple instances of money transfers by check and debit card from the livestock association’s accounts to Hilliard, according to the affidavit.
Flowers said in the affidavit that, according to a statement from the livestock show board, Hilliard was not authorized to make the transfers to himself, or in some cases, allegedly use their debit card to purchase items such as Barbie Dolls, Lego’s, meals and other items.
On two occasions last December, Hilliard is alleged to have forged the name of association board member, Jeremy Mann, for reimbursement by checks in the amount of $3,180 and $2,750. According to the affidavit, Mann said he did not issue or sign the reimbursement checks in question.
In a transaction on January 17, a total of $825 was missing from the fund that pays youth 4-H and FFA nomination fees for their livestock show projects at the annual spring show, according to the affidavit.
Flowers wrote in the affidavit that the livestock association has only one debit card issued to the general fund and Hilliard was holder of that card. On January 30, Flowers said the card appears to have been used four times for personal items.
When contacted about the missing money, Hilliard told Flowers “he was fixing to pay it back,” according to the affidavit.
Flowers said in the affidavit he and Hilliard discussed several transactions from the livestock association accounts and that Hilliard admitted to “fraudulently taking money from the MCJLA accounts,” and using the debit card to his own benefit.
According to Flowers, the missing funds amounted to a total of $28,788 after subtracting some repayment by Hilliard.
Hilliard made his initial ap- pearance before Associate District Judge Mark Melton on Wednesday, March 12 and was released on a $15,000 bond. A preliminary hearing conference is set for April 3, 2025 at 9:00 a.m.
Calvin Wesley Hilliard
He was charged with these offenses: Felonies
•10 counts of embezzlement
•2 counts of uttering a forged instrument
•Pattern of criminal offenses in two or more counties Misdemeanors
•Petit larceny
•2 counts of embezzlement
•5 counts of unauthorized use of a debit card
•1 count of leaving the scene of an accident.
Hilliard served four, two-year terms as District 22 state representative beginning in 2005 and ending in 2013, according to a legislative website. He later worked in the banking industry in Murray County for several years.
