Richmond Assistant City Manager Accused Of Misusing Funds

RICHMOND (KPIX 5) -- A top Richmond city official is under scrutiny amid allegations of misusing city resources and taking money she was not entitled to.

A city employee blew the whistle on assistant city manager and human resources director Leslie Knight. She is accused of running a personal business using city staff, storing business materials at vacant city offices, illegally taking financial perks and retaliating against other city employees.

Richmond employee Stacie Plummer recently told fellow union members why she put together a long report, turning in her boss. "I've also faced retaliation and there was bullying before that. I could almost say bullying to the point where I had to whistleblow," she said in a video posted on YouTube.

An investigation into those allegations found Knight improperly receiving $450 each month for a car allowance, while also using a city vehicle. A photo in the complaint showed a city-owned Toyota Prius parked in her driveway.

According to the report, Knight allegedly directed an employee to search and access the whistleblower's email.

The report also found Knight, who owns a side business called Little Luxuries, was directing her employees to make decorative trinkets on city time, storing them in city offices. The city claims Knight didn't make any money on them and that they were simply an effort to boost employee morale.

Vice Mayor Corky Booze said she offered him and other council members the gifts.

"It was kind of like a humanistic gesture for the people that she worked with," Booze said.

Knight has not been suspended by her boss, City Manager Bill Lindsay, as of Friday. Lindsay told KPIX 5 that he needs to go over the report and make a determination later.

"Leslie Knight will reimburse the city. She's going to make the city whole," Lindsay said.

Knight did not respond to KPIX 5's request for comment Friday.

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