An internal city audit released Tuesday has found widespread financial mismanagement inside the St. Louis sheriff's office.

The 10-page report analyzed the office’s financial practices from July 2024 to June 2025 — including both the administrations of former Sheriff Vernon Betts and the currently jailed Sheriff Alfred Montgomery , who took office in January

The city’s financial watchdogs raised alarms on a slew of financial red flags within the office, including a $812,666 deficit, a bounced check for a $56,000 takehome car and payroll discrepancies for employees who didn't log hours.

Auditors stated the office had a “critical weakness” in how it handled finances and categorized the office’s finances as “high risk” if corrective actions weren’t taken immediately — not 2026,

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