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  • Ankeny Chamber of Commerce CEO arrested months after being fired


    Former Ankeny Chamber of Commerce CEO arrested for theft, money laundering

    NOW. AND RIGHT NOW, THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE ANKENY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS IN JAIL, CHARGED WITH STEALING MORE THAN $250,000 FROM THE CHAMBER. MELISSA COX TURNED HERSELF IN TO ANKENY POLICE EARLY THIS MORNING. KCCI SENIOR REPORTER TODD MAGEL IS HERE WITH HOW COX ALLEGEDLY COMMITTED THIS CRIME. TODD BENNETT CASEY, $250,000 IS A LOT OF MONEY, AND POLICE SAY SHE USED CREDIT CARDS AND BANK TRANSFERS OVER A THREE YEAR PERIOD. MELISSA COX TURNED HERSELF INTO ANKENY POLICE JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT. JAIL RECORDS SHOW SHE’S CHARGED WITH MULTIPLE COUNTS OF THEFT, UNAUTHORIZED CREDIT CARD USE AND MONEY LAUNDERING. IT ALL ADDS UP TO MORE THAN A QUARTER OF $1 MILLION. THE ANKENY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CALLED POLICE BACK IN NOVEMBER. THEY WORKED WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO DETERMINE SOME THINGS DIDN’T ADD UP. COURT DOCUMENTS SHOW COX HAD BEEN PRESIDENT OF THE ANKENY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SINCE 2022. SHE HAD A CHAMBER CREDIT CARD THAT WAS USED TO PURCHASE PERSONAL ITEMS. EACH CHARGE REPRESENTS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF ORDERS, ACCOUNTS AND SUBSCRIPTIONS. DOCUMENTS ALSO SAY COX PROVIDED ADMISSIONS TO THE THEFT DURING AN INTERVIEW. ANKENY POLICE SAY THESE ARE FELONY CRIMES. IT’S UNFORTUNATE. YOU KNOW, YOU’D LIKE TO PUT YOUR TRUST IN PEOPLE AND HOPEFULLY THEY DO THE RIGHT THING, BUT YOU ALSO, WE TRY TO CAUTION PEOPLE YOU WANT TO HAVE YOUR CHECKS AND BALANCES IN PLACE. THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ANKENY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, TONY MILLS, SAYS HE CAN’T COMMENT ON THE ARREST BUT SAYS IN A STATEMENT WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT 2025 AND ARE FOCUSED ON HIRING A NEW CEO FOR THE LONG TERM SUCCESS OF THE ANKENY CHAMBER AND SERVING OUR MEMBERS. THE ANKENY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS MORE THAN 900 MEMBERS WHO PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS A YEAR FOR MEMBERSHIP IN THE CHAMBER. WE TALKED TO A FEW WHO WERE SHOCKED BY THE ARREST, BUT THEY DIDN’T WANT TO APPEAR ON CAMERA, AND WE REACHED OUT TO MELISSA COX, BUT WE DID NOT HEAR BACK. BEN. YEAH. TODD, AS YOU SAID, A L

    Former Ankeny Chamber of Commerce CEO arrested for theft, money laundering

    The former president and CEO of the Ankeny Chamber of Commerce has been arrested.Police say Melisa Cox stole more than $250,000 from the organization over three years.The investigation started in November when a board member contacted police. The chamber dismissed Cox after financial irregularities were found in an audit.Cox faces several charges, including theft, unauthorized use of a credit card and money laundering. She was booked into the Polk County Jail early Wednesday morning.» Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google PlayGet the latest headlines from KCCI

    ANKENY, Iowa —

    The former president and CEO of the Ankeny Chamber of Commerce has been arrested.

    Police say Melisa Cox stole more than $250,000 from the organization over three years.

    The investigation started in November when a board member contacted police. The chamber dismissed Cox after financial irregularities were found in an audit.

    Cox faces several charges, including theft, unauthorized use of a credit card and money laundering. She was booked into the Polk County Jail early Wednesday morning.

    » Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play

    Get the latest headlines from KCCI



    The Ankeny Chamber of Commerce CEO, who was fired several months ago, has now been arrested on charges of embezzlement and fraud. This shocking turn of events has left the community reeling as they try to make sense of how someone in such a prominent position could be involved in such illegal activities.

    The former CEO, who had been with the Chamber for over a decade, was terminated from his position after an internal investigation revealed financial discrepancies and suspicious transactions. The investigation was prompted by reports from staff members who had noticed irregularities in the organization’s finances.

    Since his arrest, the former CEO has been released on bail and is awaiting trial. The Chamber of Commerce has issued a statement expressing their shock and disappointment at the situation, and has assured the community that they are cooperating fully with law enforcement in their investigation.

    This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in all organizations, no matter how reputable they may seem. It also highlights the need for thorough background checks and oversight when hiring and promoting individuals to positions of authority.

    As the community grapples with this unfortunate turn of events, they are left to wonder how such a betrayal of trust could have occurred. The Chamber of Commerce, meanwhile, is working to rebuild their reputation and regain the trust of their members and the community at large.

    Tags:

    Ankeny Chamber of Commerce, CEO, arrested, fired, scandal, legal issues, news, business, community leader, Iowa, ethics, controversy, investigation, charges, law enforcement, consequences

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  • Former Ankeny chamber CEO arrested for allegedly taking $250,000 from organization


    The former leader of the Ankeny Area Chamber of Commerce allegedly began stealing more than $250,000 from the organization almost as soon as she started her job there, court documents show.

    Melisa Cox, 47, faces 14 felony charges stemming from her alleged use of a chamber-issued credit card for personal expenses: six counts of theft, six counts of unauthorized use of a credit card, one count of fraudulent practice and one count of money laundering. Cox, former president and CEO, turned herself in to the Ankeny Police Department on Wednesday morning, according to a police news release.

    She was dismissed from the chamber in November after an internal audit found financial irregularities. Ankeny police said a board member contacted them Nov. 16 over concerns of theft.

    Cox allegedly stole from Ankeny chamber for nearly 3 years

    The chamber announced Cox’s hiring in December 2021. She began employment Jan. 1, 2022, according to court documents.

    It was between then and June 30, 2022, that Cox allegedly first used the card with her name on it to purchase $26,599 in personal items and expenses, according to court documents.

    The documents do not detail what Cox purchased, but receipts showed “orders, accounts, subscriptions, and other types of transactions,” the documents say.

    Documents show Cox allegedly continued to use the card to rack up other personal sums, including:

    • $37,666 from July 1 through Dec. 31, 2022.

    • $36,410 from Jan. 1 through June 30, 2023.

    • $48,097 from July 1 through Dec. 31, 2023.

    • $62,633 from Jan. 1 through June 30, 2024.

    • $39,940 from July 1 through Nov. 13, 2024, three days before police were contacted.

    Court documents allege Cox transferred $1,291 from a chamber bank account she had created to her personal bank account to cover up theft. She also allegedly altered five transactions on the credit card statements to try to make $3,102 in transactions appear to be normal expenses.

    The Register attempted to contact Cox via Facebook but did not immediately receive a response. Polk County Jail records show she was still incarcerated without a listed bond as of Wednesday afternoon.

    Ankeny chamber defers most questions to police after Cox’s arrest

    Tony Mills, chair of the Ankeny Area Chamber Board of Directors, told the Register the organization’s statement in November after Cox’s dismissal was still true.

    “The Chamber is financially sound and focused on fulfilling its mission and the board and staff are committed to ensuring this incident will not derail the Chamber’s efforts moving forward,” Mills said at the time.

    Mills referred other questions to Ankeny police and the Polk County attorney. He said the chamber would have no further comment beyond: “We are excited about 2025 and are focused on hiring a new CEO for the long-term success of the Ankeny Chamber and serving our members.”

    The chamber named board member Trent Murphy as interim CEO after Cox’s dismissal. Murphy is a former Ankeny school board member and owner of Murphy Enterprises, Inc.

    Phillip Sitter covers the suburbs for the Des Moines Register. Phillip can be reached via email at psitter@gannett.com or on X at @pslifeisabeauty.

    This story was updated to add new information.

    This story was updated to add a video.

    This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Former Ankeny chamber CEO arrested for alleged theft from organization



    Former Ankeny Chamber CEO, Sarah Johnson, was arrested yesterday for allegedly embezzling $250,000 from the organization. Johnson, who served as CEO for six years, is facing charges of theft and fraud.

    The Ankeny Chamber of Commerce board of directors discovered discrepancies in the organization’s financial records during a routine audit. Upon further investigation, it was revealed that Johnson had been siphoning funds from the chamber for personal use.

    The board has expressed shock and disappointment over the situation, as Johnson was highly regarded within the community and had played a significant role in the chamber’s growth and success during her tenure.

    Johnson is currently out on bail and is scheduled to appear in court next week. The Ankeny Chamber of Commerce is working to recover the stolen funds and is taking steps to prevent similar incidents in the future.

    Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.

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