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Child Support Worker Indicted For Theft, Official Misconduct

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A former child support office worker who was the focus of a NewsChannel 5 investigation is facing criminal charges.

She is accused of stealing thousands of dollars from parents, and the TBI fears there may be more victims.

Pamela Campbell collected child support and then was supposed to get that money to parents to help care for their children. 

NewsChannel 5 Investigates tried to talk with Pamela Campbell last month after learning she was accused of stealing money from parents.

But Campbell, who had worked as a caseworker for 10 years at the Williamson County Child Support office in Franklin, wouldn't admit to anything.

Now, she is charged with theft over $10,000 and official misconduct after a TBI investigation found she used her job to steal money from parents like Tiffiney Jenkins.

Jenkins told NewsChannel 5 Investigates last month, "I was shocked at how bold she was. I feel like she thought that I wouldn't miss the money."

And, the TBI said, Jenkins wasn't the only one.

According to the TBI's Illana Tate, "This was going on from 2010 until November of 2013 so that's some time and there's just no telling how many people. "

The TBI said Campbell pocketed somewhere between $10,000 and $60,000 during those four years. 

"I can't get into the specifics of exactly how she was diverting the  money, but it was definitely clear that she was using those payments that she had in her possession to divert the money to her own personal use," Tate said. 

Tiffiney Jenkins said Campbell told her to go to the bank and get a money order for $500.

"I said, 'I don't know what to put on the money order like who to pay to the order of.' And, she said, 'Don't worry about it. You know, I'll take care of it,'" Jenkins recalled. 

Later, Jenkins discovered the money order had been made payable to Campbell.

NewsChannel 5 Investigates asked Campbell last month, "The money order has your name on it and your signature on it. How did that happen?"

She did not respond.

Campbell was indicted by a Williamson County grand jury last week. Officials said that the 52 year old turned herself in on Friday. What isn't clear is where all that money went.

NewsChannel 5 Investigates also tried to ask Campbell, "What do you tell these parents? Why would you take money from these parents?"

Campbell again didn't answer our questions as she got in her SUV and closed the door. 

Since our story ran last month, we have heard from others who say Pamela Campbell was their caseworker and they suspected she was taking money from them too.

The TBI said that there could be others beyond the people they've already talked to. And they're asking anyone who dealt with Campbell who has concerns to contact them at 1-800-TBI-FIND.

In addition, the TBI said that it's not sure whether Campbell was working alone or had help. They said this is still an active investigation. No one else has been arrested at this point, but they said they're not ruling out making additional arrests down the road.

Pamela Campbell left the Williamson County child support office in November of last year just as the TBI investigation was getting started.

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