A recent internal audit found hundreds of missing vehicles and tens of thousands of missing cash from the St. Louis City tow lot. Comptroller Donna Baringer has sent the audit to the US Attorney's office for a "forthcoming federal investigation."
"If there's anything missing and could possibly be criminal you're obligated to turn it in to be investigated," says Baringer. When asked to clarify if this means she thinks there was criminal, Baringer said "that is not for me to decide."
Baringer, who took office just weeks ago, says she wants to know why this wasn't caught sooner.
"I would ask why no one caught this before it was put out on the [city's] website."
Baringer says one of the issues is the tow lot still using cash for transactions and suggests they move to 'Pay St. Louis,' a digital payment platform used by other departments in the City, including the streets department.
The issue with missing vehicles has been the tow lot not following processes and procedures.
"They have been dinged four times in five years for not following these accounting practices."
KMOX has reached out to the city for comment and is awaiting a response. The US Attorney's office declined.