Little Rock, Ark. – Pulaski County Government is investigating a suspected fraud scheme that diverted approximately $1.9 million in public funds intended for medical services at the Pulaski County Detention Center. The money was sent to an account listed in a fraudulent email that appeared to come from Turn Key Health Clinics, LLC, the contractor that provides health care for detainees.
How the scheme unfolded
On June 19, 2026, the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) received an email that claimed to be from a Turn Key accounts‑receivable representative. The message instructed PCSO staff to change the provider’s payment method to the Automated Clearing House (ACH) system and to update the banking information for future payments.
Following standard procedure, PCSO forwarded the payment voucher and the attached banking details to the County’s Accounts Payable Department. The new information was entered into the county’s payment system, and the County Treasurer’s Office verified the banking institution as required. Payments were then made using the updated account over the next several months.
Discovery and response
On October 23, 2026, a legitimate Turn Key representative contacted the sheriff’s office to report that the company had not received any payments for several months and that it never requested a change to its banking information. PCSO immediately alerted the County Purchasing Department of the potential issue.
After an internal review by the PCSO’s Information Technology team, the email request was determined to be fraudulent. The most recent payment, totaling $126,344.87, was recovered after the fraud was identified.
County officials’ actions
Pulaski County Judge Barry Hyde emphasized the importance of protecting taxpayer dollars. He urged the sheriff’s office and all county departments that handle payments to review existing policies and implement stronger safeguards against financial fraud.
County officials have also notified the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the investigation remains ongoing. The sheriff’s office issued a public reminder that scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated and advised residents and agencies to verify any financial‑related requests through trusted, direct channels before taking action.
What residents should know
The county says it remains committed to transparency and the responsible stewardship of public resources. Updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.
For anyone who receives unexpected emails or phone calls requesting changes to payment information, the sheriff’s office recommends confirming the request by contacting the organization directly using known phone numbers or official email addresses.
Original reporting: KATV Little Rock (local) — read the source article.
