PORT ALLEN - A Port Allen utility employee was fired Friday following an internal investigation that found she had misappropriated $220 worth of funds.

The employee was fired at noon, and the investigation has now been turned over to the West Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office for detectives to pursue. The WBRZ Investigative Unit has the name of the employee, and will release it soon now that the investigation is wrapping up.

The employee, who worked at the Port Allen City Hall, had not been employed by the city for very long before the investigation was opened up. Concerns were raised when city officials did not immediately place the employee on paid leave until the investigation was completed.

The investigation showed that there were issues with how payments were credited on utility bills involving work carried out by the Port Allen City Hall employee. Investigators found the woman was processing payment for the full amounts due on accounts and allowing the customers to pay back what they owed over time.

More details are expected this afternoon.