Auditor of State Rob Sand today (Wednesday), released a report on a special investigation of the Civil Commitment Unit for Sexual Offenders (CCUSO) in Cherokee, for the period August 1, 2019, through February 28, 2021. CCUSO is operated by the Division of Mental Health and Disability Services within the Department of Human Services (DHS) and is located on the campus of the Cherokee Mental Health Institute. CCUSO houses sexually violent predators from all ninety-nine Iowa counties.

The special investigation was requested by CCUSO and DHS officials as a result of alleged improprieties regarding actions taken by a former administrative assistant, Renae Rapp, which resulted in unauthorized payroll disbursements to her husband. Ms. Rapp’s husband was also previously employed by CCUSO. Sand reported the special investigation identified $61,610.66 of improper disbursements, including $52,618.19 of gross wages paid to Ms. Rapp’s husband and $8,992.47 of related payroll costs. The excess pay and benefits were a result of Ms. Rapp using her husband’s key fob and making manual adjustments to the payroll system to show he worked when he did not. The improper pay was electronically deposited to a bank account Ms. Rapp shares with her husband.

Sand recommended CCUSO officials implement procedures to ensure information recorded in the time keeping system is verified and accurate and adjustments to it are properly monitored. Sand also recommended CCUSO officials implement procedures to ensure compliance with requirements established by the Code of Iowa. Copies of the report have been filed with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Cherokee County Attorney’s Office, and the Attorney General’s Office. A copy of the report is available for review on the Auditor of State’s web site at https://auditor.iowa.gov/reports/audit-reports/.