MATA Deputy CEO on leave over $800K in misspent funds
by: Tia McKenzie, Melissa Moon
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Memphis Area Transit Authority executive was placed on leave after the agency says it discovered hundreds of thousands of dollars in misspent funds.
The private company Transpro made the announcement. WREG has learned that executive is Bacarra Maudlin, who is Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Memphis Area Transit Authority.
Interim CEO John Lewis did not name the employee placed on leave, but said the charges included a $603,000 Memphis Grizzlies sponsorship, $144,000 in American Express charges, and $56,000 for food and catering services.
MATA reported that the executive spent $7,000 at Best Buy, $10,000 on Amazon purchases, $8,000 on live entertainment, and more.
Maudlin’s attorney, Vanecia Belser Kimbrow, said Maudlin is already on family medical leave and that all the expenses are business-related.
“It’s very unfortunate that John Lewis and Transpro would go on this witch hunt to lay a decade or more of mismanagement and inefficiencies, lack of funding, lack of support at the foot of past Deputy Director Baccara Mauldin, who served less than a year, who in fact was the whistleblower upon her becoming the interim CEO,” said Kimbrow.
A statement from the City of Memphis says, “After our initial review of MATA, multiple red flags triggered our administration to act swiftly in the best interest of our entire community. While we cannot comment on specifics in light of the ongoing investigation, we want to assure our residents that we are committed to full transparency and accountability.”
The MATA board of commissioners met to discuss plans for setting safety performance goals and more.
Bus service changes were planned for next month but will not go into effect. Routes and fares will remain the same.
“Over the last ten years, the city has not increased its commitment to MATA, and that’s one of the driving reasons why the service is so up poor, at least at this time,” said Leo Arnault, an advocate for bus riders.
Kimbrow said the credit card in question is the sole credit card used for the entire agency.
A plan to change bus routes was delayed after the discovery.
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