Greene County Sheriff Jonathan “Joe” Benison is pushing back against new state allegations that his office misspent nearly $5 million in charitable bingo funds, calling the claims politically motivated and “a vendetta of the forces in Montgomery.”
According to an audit released last week by the Examiners of Public Accounts, Benison’s office owes the State of Alabama $4,966,427.69 for expenditures deemed out of compliance with the Alabama Constitution’s provisions governing charitable bingo operations.
Chief Examiner Rachel Laurie Riddle issued an order on September 17, stating that Benison failed to show just causewhy the nearly $5 million should not be repaid. The audit report concluded that Benison “did not ensure that disbursements from proceeds of bingo operations were in compliance with the Constitution of Alabama.”
Sheriff Benison Denies Wrongdoing
In a Thursday statement to The Greene County Democrat, Benison strongly denied any wrongdoing and defended his use of bingo proceeds as legitimate and beneficial to Greene County residents.
“It is regrettable that, in the face of documentation justifying the millions of dollars of expenditures made to improve the lives of the citizens of Greene County, the vendetta of the forces in Montgomery continues,” Benison said. “Less than a year ago, the litigation waged by the Attorney General for seven years ended with the reaffirmation of my role under the Constitution as the sole regulator of bingo in Greene County. Now, here we go again. They should be ashamed. I didn’t back down when they sued me, and I won’t back down now.”
Benison maintains that the disputed funds were used for community programs, including scholarships for every Greene County high school senior and payments to sheriff’s deputies who serve and protect the county. He said the expenditures were well-documented and aimed at improving local quality of life.
A Long-Running Battle Over Bingo
The controversy marks the latest chapter in a long and bitter fight between Greene County officials and state authorities over the regulation of electronic bingo operations.
While Greene County’s constitutional amendment and lower court rulings have affirmed the legality of electronic bingo, the Alabama Supreme Court has consistently issued rulings against such operations, interpreting them as illegal under state law.
This ongoing legal tug-of-war has placed sheriffs, including Benison, in direct conflict with the Alabama Attorney General’s Office, which has repeatedly sought to shut down bingo facilities across several counties. Greene County has been among the most defiant, maintaining its operations despite legal and political pressure from Montgomery.
Audit Adds New Tension
The nearly $5 million audit charge represents the most significant financial claim yet against Benison’s office and renews scrutiny over how bingo proceeds are distributed and monitored. The audit also noted that some of the money was spent on consultants, attorneys, and sheriff’s office employees — expenditures the state says were not properly documented.
Benison insists the audit is part of a broader campaign to undermine Greene County’s independence and the economic benefits bingo has provided to local communities.
“The people of Greene County know where their money goes,” Benison said. “These funds have supported education, law enforcement, and community programs that make a difference.”
As of press time, Benison’s office has not released the documentation he says justifies the expenditures. The state has not yet announced whether it will pursue legal action to recover the funds.