Nebraska Auditor Alleges Part-Time Employee Fraud of $20,700 from State Agency

Nebraska State Auditor Mike Foley released a detailed audit accusing the part-time executive director of the Nebraska Abstracters Board of Examiners, Trenton Behr, of defrauding the agency of over $20,700 by inflating his work hours over a consecutive 140-day period, despite simultaneously holding a full-time job at Albireo Energy. Foley described Behr's alleged work record as implausible, noting that he claimed overlapping hours at both jobs, including times he was attending graduate school and even during a Disneyland trip. The report also revealed misuse of company credit cards, fraudulent unemployment insurance claims, and lax oversight by the board that allowed these abuses to go undetected. The board, responsible for certifying real estate abstractors, has been criticized for poor budget reporting and insufficient controls, prompting ongoing investigations by law enforcement. Foley hopes the audit sends a strong message about the need for stricter oversight in small state agencies. Behr has declined to comment through his attorney, and the board has withheld comment during the investigation.