Ex-Farmington schools homeless liaison accused of taking about $3M, audit says
Retired Farmington Public Schools homeless student liaison Hatty Ligon, 54, faces embezzlement and tax charges after a forensic audit alleged she took about $3 million. A pre-exam conference is set for Thursday.
By OCJ Staff
A retired Farmington Public Schools employee who served as the district's liaison for homeless students is due in court Thursday, Oct. 9, on embezzlement charges after a forensic audit alleged she took about $3 million.
Hatty Ligon, 54, turned herself in Aug. 25 after a warrant was issued for her arrest, according to the Farmington Press, a C&G Newspapers publication. She is charged with embezzlement over $100,000, four counts of failure to file or filing fraudulent taxes, and public money safekeeping.
Ligon was arraigned by Judge Marla E. Parker in 47th District Court in Farmington Hills, and bond was set at $500,000. Her pre-exam conference is scheduled for Thursday.
Charges are accusations; Ligon is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. The Farmington Press said it could not reach Ligon's defense before publication.
What the audit found
The district requested an independent forensic audit of all of its vendors after noticing spending anomalies. Plante Moran conducted the audit, and lead auditor Michelle McHale presented the findings to the Board of Education on Sept. 1.
According to the audit, spending on transportation vendors rose from nearly $84,900 in 2021 to nearly $640,300 in 2025, an all-time high. Spending dropped sharply after Ligon left the district, the audit found.
All 31 vendors examined had direct ties to Ligon, according to the audit. Auditors said that during interviews in January, Ligon provided fraudulent documentation and emails meant to show the vendors had been properly vetted.
"Miss Ligon did admit to preparing invoices on behalf of the vendors, which is a very unusual task," McHale said.
A trusted employee
Ligon joined the district in the 1990s and rose through the ranks. In 2012, she received the district's Judy White-Ora Teaching with Heart and Soul Award.
"Hatty was in that position and was a trusted and highly respected staff member," Superintendent Kelly Coffin said.
Board Secretary Terri Weems, a certified public accountant, was blunt: "I'm a taxpayer, and I'm angry."
What this means for residents
The case comes as Farmington voters prepare to decide a $171 million school bond on the Nov. 3 ballot. Because the criminal case is still active, many details have not been released.
This story uses reporting from the Farmington Press (C&G Newspapers).