GBI: Former Dade Jail Commander Allegedly Spent $10,000 In Jail Funds On Copenhagen Tobacco

A former Dade County Jail commander allegedly used $10,000 in jail funds over a three-year period to purchase Copenhagen smokeless tobacco for personal use, according to state investigators.

Former Dade County Sheriff’s Office Jail Commander Joseph William Chambers, 52, was charged on June 4 with one count of Theft by Conversion and one count of Violation of Oath by a Public Officer following a Georgia Bureau of Investigation inquiry into alleged misuse of public funds at the Dade County Jail. He turned himself in later that same day.

Special Agent in Charge Earl Glover of the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Calhoun told the Sentinel the purchases were not a single incident, but rather a long-running series of smaller transactions spread over time.

“It wasn’t just a one-time purchase,” Glover said. 

Each of the purchases, though, were for the same item: Copenhagen smokeless tobacco.

According to Glover, Chambers was responsible for obtaining supplies for inmates, and over the last three years, that would on multiple occasions also include his own personal smokeless tobacco of choice.

“He was supposed to be making purchases for inmates,” Glover said. “But he also purchased tobacco products for himself.”

Glover said investigators estimated the alleged misuse totaled roughly $10,000, exclusively involving Copenhagen smokeless tobacco, often referred to as “dip” or “chew.”

Investigators believe the alleged theft was made up of relatively small individual transactions, which contributed to the activity not being noticed earlier.

The investigation began May 28 after Dade County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Tommy Bradford requested the GBI examine jail financial records following the discovery of what the department described as “concerning purchases” allegedly made by Chambers while serving as jail administrator.

The sheriff’s office terminated Chambers’ employment June 1 after Bradford was informed of preliminary findings in the investigation.

Glover said local investigators followed proper protocol in turning the case over to the state police.

“The sheriff’s office, when they noticed some discrepancies, they reached out to us,” Glover said. “They recognized it. They said ‘Let’s get somebody in.’”

He added that the investigation remains active but is nearing completion, and will be referred to the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office in the next week.

“No one’s above the law,” Glover said. “Especially if you’ve been entrusted with the duty of serving the public.”

Chambers is currently out on bond.