The former IT manager for the Town of Lexington has been arrested in connection with over $57,000 in unauthorized purchases.

Beatrice Lyons-Daniels, who was employed by the town from September 2014 to December 2023, according to a release from the town, was put on administrative leave for the duration of an internal investigation and was terminated on Dec. 15, 2023.

“In early December 2023, the Town of Lexington Finance Department uncovered discrepancies

with invoices submitted from the purchasing card assigned to Bea Daniels,” the release read. “An internal audit of this purchasing card uncovered numerous unauthorized expenditures with misleading documentation and fraudulent invoices associated with these purchases."

These purchases occurred from July 2021 to December 2023 and totaled $57,201.13, according to the arrest warrant, which referred to the purchases as “unauthorized purchases of items for her personal use.”

Lyons-Daniels, 64, was arrested on March 18 and charged with breach of trust with fraudulent intent and was booked at the Lexington County Detention Center, according to a release from SLED.

The case will be prosecuted by the 11th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.