Former MoDOT Supervisor Indicted in $80K Fraud and Theft Scheme

Federal Indictment Details Credit Card Misuse

According to the federal indictment, Jackson misused MoDOT credit cards from December 2022 through July 2026. Prosecutors state that he made roughly 248 personal purchases totaling approximately $50,000. The transactions included electronic equipment, cologne, watches, clothing, and shoes, along with equipment and accessories for his personal vehicles, which included a Yamaha Raptor ATV, a Suzuki motorcycle, and a GMC Sierra 1500 truck. To conceal the spending, Jackson allegedly altered vendor invoices to make the personal purchases look like legitimate agency expenses. The indictment states that he approved the transactions by signature and submitted the falsified invoices to his supervisor to trick them into believing the expenses were authorized.

Staged Equipment Thefts and Cover-Up Schemes

Beyond the credit card charges, the indictment outlines the theft of two newly purchased mowers and a trailer from the MoDOT maintenance facility. In May 2026, Jackson purchased two mowers costing $9,954 and $13,959 that were delivered to the Normandy facility. On May 17, 2026, he allegedly stole the mowers and staged a fake burglary to make it appear as though an outside party had taken them. When MoDOT launched an internal investigation, prosecutors say Jackson grew worried that investigators would find the mowers hidden in a wooded area. MOWERS! MODOT!!! The indictment states he then placed an anonymous call using a fake voice to report the location and claimed in a separate call that a local elected official had tipped him off. During the ongoing investigation on May 28, 2026, supervisors questioned Jackson about a 14-foot Big Tex trailer and accessories he bought in 2025 using $5,411 in MoDOT funds. Prosecutors state Jackson initially lied, claiming the trailer was stored at a MoDOT facility in Bellefontaine Neighbors. Fearing discovery, he drove the trailer the next day to a spot blocking a lane on Missouri Highway 367, where local police recovered it after reviewing area surveillance video showing Jackson towing the equipment with his personal truck.

Employment History and Legal Penalties

Jackson began working for the Missouri Department of Transportation on Dec. 9, 2013. He received a promotion to maintenance supervisor on Oct. 1, 2022, and ultimately lost his job when MoDOT terminated him on July 24, 2026, according to court documents. A federal grand jury indicted Jackson on Wednesday on four counts of mail fraud. Each count carries a maximum possible penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison, a fine reaching $250,000, or both. The U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General and the MoDOT Audits and Investigations Division investigated the case with assistance from the Missouri State Auditor’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Goldsmith is handling the prosecution. Prosecutors emphasize that an indictment contains only accusations and that all defendants remain presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.