State Board of Accounts investigating Roseland's finances

ROSELAND, Ind. -- The Indiana State Board of Accounts is currently investigating the Town of Roseland, filing a special investigation report on the last day of 2025.

The report spans from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2024.

It all started in early April 2024, when the SBOA got a complaint that approximately 20 checks were missing, based on reconciliation and financial funds reports from the former clerk-treasurer, Shane Williams-Inez.

Williams-Inez was elected to serve a four-year term as clerk-treasurer, starting Jan. 1, 2024, through Dec. 31, 2027.

But the report outlines his resignation in late September 2024, less than a year in. 

The SBOA went to town hall to review documents twice in April, the second time speaking with Williams-Inez and Mike Schalk, president of the town council.

During that time, Williams-Inez said he had not received any training from the prior clerk treasurer.

After the SBOA’s assessment, they did not conduct a special investigation, but said records were disorganized and procedures were lacking, so they issued some guidance to both Schalk and Williams-Inez.

A second assessment happened months later. In September 2024, the SBOA and Indiana State Police met with Schalk and members of the Roseland Police Department to address concerns related to debit card payments to "Remitly," a platform used to send or transfer money internationally.

The report says there was no documentation to support who received the town funds or the town-related purpose.

The report says the SBOA tried to meet with Williams-Inez later that month, but he told them he wouldn't be available and was resigning on Sept. 28, 2024.

The report says Williams-Inez said he’d provide documents requested by the SBOA investigator, but they did not receive them from him.

Williams-Inez resigned Sept. 30, 2024.

Investigators found more than $11,500 in purchases without a town purpose and lacking supporting documentation.

The SBOA is now asking Williams-Inez to pay the town back.

They're also asking him to pay for their own investigation into Roseland's finances.

That bill is about $10,600.

Additionally, the report shows $38,300 in questionable purchases.

At Thursday's Roseland Council Meeting, Council President Schalk said there would be no questions or comments.

Schalk said, "So that means that any other questions that would arise about that you can either read the report and come to your own conclusions or wait until the attorney general is done, because it's in their hands, as far as any prosecution or anything that goes along with that, we are hoping that we do get compensated for what we have lost."

The SBOA report is at the AG's office.

A spokesperson for the Office of Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita released the following statement:

"We have received the report and are reviewing it for next steps. We take our role in these matters seriously and will take all necessary actions to recover the missing funds."

Shane Williams-Inez released the following statement regarding the investigation:

"Since the conclusion of the investigation and release of the report, some items initially noted as lacking documentation were later supplemented with records provided to the reviewing authorities. As I am no longer in office, I don’t have anything further to add beyond what is reflected in the public report."

ABC57 reached out to the St Joseph County Prosecutors' Office, which has the report, but has yet to review it.

You can read the full SBOA report below: