State employees group president demoted by Correction Department

NASHVILLE — Tennessee State Employees Association President Zoyle Jones has been demoted from a top post at the state Department of Correction for allegedly double-billing the state and the employees’ group for identical trips, records obtained by the Times Free Press show.

The matter has been turned over to Davidson County District Attorney General Torry Johnson, according to a Feb. 17 letter from Correction Commissioner George Little to Mr. Jones.

Mr. Jones said in a brief telephone interview this morning his attorney has advised him not to discuss the matter.

“He’s advised me not to talk to y’all,” he said. “I want to talk about it.”

Efforts to reach his lawyer this morning were not successful.

The total amount of money the state questions paying is $2,770.89

While noting in the letter that Mr. Jones has asserted his official state travel was “properly authorized,” conducted and processed, Mr. Little reminded him he had also acknowledged billing both the state and TSEA.

“It is a serious violation of State travel regulations to be reimbursed by the State and another entity for the same travel (in this case mileage,” Mr.Little wrote. “Moreover, the nature of these violations may rise to the level of a criminal matter.”

Mr. Little confirmed the action on Monday, saying in an interview that “at issue was the claim for full reimbursement over a period of several years that certainly was in violation of state travel regulations.

“As a result of the inquiry and the various incidents that were documented,” the commissioner said, “Mr. Jones was relieved of his appointed position as director of classification with the DOC actually effective, I believe, last Tuesday.”

He said the state’s disciplinary action, while appropriate under a “preponderance” of evidence standard, may not necessarily rise to the level of criminal prosecution relying on establishing guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Mr. Jones has been demoted to the position of correctional counselor 2 and reassigned to the Tennessee Prison for Women, the commissioner said. His pay was also cut, officials said. He was being paid $5,267 a month. That has been reduced to $3,824, according to the letter and DOC officials.

Mr. Jones is the elected president of the TSEA, which represents state employees in their dealings with the state. It is unclear how his current difficulties will impact his position with the TSEA.

For complete details, see tomorrow’s Chattanooga Times Free Press.