Former Troup County payroll manager sentenced for embezzling more than $500,000 in government funds

NEWNAN, Ga. - Wesleigh Gaddy has been sentenced for stealing more than $500,000 from the Troup County Board of Commissioners' payroll accounts.

"Gaddy stole more than half a million taxpayer dollars, misusing and abusing the personal information of dozens of former Troup County employees," said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. "We and our agency partners will hold accountable any public servant who manipulates his or her position for unlawful private benefit."

"While Wesleigh Gaddy's crime may not have caused physical harm, it severely impacted the lives of Troup County residents by betraying the public trust," said Peter Ellis, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Georgia. "The FBI is committed to holding accountable those who steal from the public, and this sentence underscores the seriousness of such actions."

"Wesleigh Gaddy's actions represent a serious breach of public trust and a deliberate exploitation of her position for personal gain," said Chris Hosey, Director, Georgia Bureau of Investigation. "This sentence sends a clear message that public corruption and financial crimes will be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted in partnership with our federal and local partners."

"Wesleigh Gaddy's theft of public funds is a grave betrayal of trust," said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. "As a public servant, her crime not only impacted hard working employees of the county, but it also undermines the integrity of government. Be assured that IRS Criminal Investigation is committed to ensuring those who disregard the public trust for personal financial gain will be investigated and held accountable."

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In April 2025, a Troup County deputy sheriff discovered that his employee portal showed several direct deposit payments that he never received and that were made during a period when he did not work for the county. Subsequent review of the county's payroll data showed that, between May 2023 and April 2025, while Wesleigh Gaddy was Troup County's Payroll and Benefits Specialist, hundreds of paychecks, totaling more than $550,000, were withdrawn from county accounts in the names of more than 60 former Troup County employees. None of the employees worked for the county at the time of the payments, and all the funds went into accounts controlled by Gaddy.

Gaddy spent the stolen funds on inventory and staffing for her side business, Cedar Creek Ranch Boutique, which she had planned to expand into a feed store at the time her theft was revealed. Gaddy also used the funds to pay for three horses, a horse trailer, a horse trainer, expenses for her numerous rodeos, and everyday expenses, such as clothing and dining out. Also, during the period of her theft, Gaddy and her then-husband purchased a travel camper and a boat.

Multiple Troup County employees provided written statements at Gaddy's sentencing, explaining the direct impact her actions had on their lives, including causing their tax filings to be incorrect and forcing them to pay taxes on additional income they never received but that Gaddy reported in their names. These sentiments were echoed by Troup County Manager Eric Mosley and Troup County Human Resources Director Valerie Heard, who testified at Gaddy's sentencing, telling the Court that Gaddy's actions not only impacted the victim employees, but all Troup County citizens, who lost faith in their local public officials.

Since Gaddy's arrest, Mosley and Heard have fielded phone calls from Troup County citizens upset by Gaddy's theft of their tax dollars. Mosley and Heard explained that the Troup County Board of Commissioners has been working hard to regain that trust by ensuring that Gaddy's actions could not be repeated by anyone else in the future.

Wesleigh Gaddy, 36, of Hogansville, Georgia, was sentenced to one year, six months in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $558,943.17. Gaddy was convicted of theft from a program receiving federal funds on October 6, 2025, when she pleaded guilty.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Bethany L. Rupert prosecuted the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney's Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.