2 face charges, criminal investigation into Columbus finance department not over
Two people tied to a criminal investigation into the Columbus finance department face charges, Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman told the Ledger-Enquirer Thursday.
Yvonne Ivey, the former revenue manager for the city, was arrested on two counts of simple battery Thursday, Countryman said. Court records show she’s set to appear in court June 16.
Angelica Alexander, the city’s director of finance, had a warrant out Thursday for a charge of obstructing a law enforcement officer (misdemeanor), according to the sheriff’s office administrative report into the investigation, which was provided to the Ledger-Enquirer by Countryman.
Countryman said both were arrested Thursday.
While only Alexander and Ivey were facing prosecution Thursday, the administrative report indicated four other Columbus employees might face charges. Sheriff’s office investigators listed various potential offenses against the four, including filing false documents, obstruction and false statements and writings.
If other charges do get filed, it’s unclear when that may happen.
“This is the first phase of this investigation,” Countryman said. “There is a second part to this, a separate investigation, that is all being looked into. But I can’t go into that information.”
Towaliga Judicial Circuit Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Wayne Jernigan, previously an assistant DA in the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit, was assigned to prosecute the case after Chattahoochee District Attorney Don Kelly recused himself. Jernigan advised Countryman that he would support the prosecution of Ivey and Alexander, according to the report.
History of revenue problems and investigation
Problems with revenue collection in the city began in 2023 when the Columbus Council requested a finance department audit after reports of a backlog in processing business and alcohol licenses.
The initial audit found that the office space for the occupational tax department, which handles business and alcohol licenses, was unorganized. Unattended stacks and boxes of license applications and returned mail were piling up.
Columbus Mayor Skip Henderson requested an investigation after the release of personal information from the city’s finance department, sparking fears that officials were trying to find whistleblowers.
Last fall, it was discovered that Columbus Consolidated Government employees, including the finance director, human resources director and a deputy city manager were being investigated after the case was assigned to Towaliga Judicial Circuit District Attorney Jonathan Adams because Kelly recused himself.
Adams later confirmed to the Ledger-Enquirer that the criminal investigation was not about theft but whether city officials covered up problems.
The case was still active Thursday, Countryman said.
“We are trying to wrap up the investigation,” Countryman said. “So, we can move onto some other work that we have.”
This story was originally published May 15, 2025 at 5:36 PM.
