The Tipton County Grand Jury this month indicted the city of Munford’s former city manager after Tennessee Comptrollers said they uncovered a bizarre scheme that allegedly enabled him to profit off of a city-owned vehicle.
That man, Peter Colin, allegedly signed over the city-owned vehicle to himself to take advantage of a $2,500 automobile rebate.
“Colin learned about an auto dealership’s rebate program that promised incentives for customers who purchased a General Motors vehicle while offering proof of owning a competing brand’s vehicle. Since Colin didn’t own a qualifying vehicle, he decided to use the City of Munford’s Jeep Cherokee,” Comptrollers said in a press release.
“In June 2018, Colin wrote the city a personal check for $500 to temporarily purchase the city’s Jeep. The city recorder did not deposit the check; however, Colin obtained the Jeep’s title from the city recorder and used the city’s vehicle to acquire the $2,500 rebate for himself. Colin purchased his new vehicle on June 29, 2018 and signed ownership of the Jeep back to the city on July 18, 2018. Investigators noted that Colin donated $100 to the city on July 19, 2018.”
Colin allegedly told investigators that City Mayor Dwayne Cole gave Colin permission to purchase the city’s Jeep.
“This was refuted by the mayor, who stated that he did not understand Colin’s plan and didn’t authorize him to carry it out,” according to Comptrollers.
“Colin acknowledged the entire transaction ‘was just a stupid thing to do.’ Colin submitted his resignation to the city on May 7, 2019. In March 2020, the Tipton County Grand Jury indicted Peter Colin on one count of official misconduct.”
Colin has two listed telephone numbers on the Internet — a landline and a cell phone number.
The Tennessee Star left a voicemail with Colin Tuesday afternoon, but he did return our request for comment by Tuesday night. Colin’s cell phone, meanwhile, was apparently disconnected.
Cole also did not return our request for comment.
Munford is in west Tennessee, near Memphis.
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Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected].
