Cobb County worker Ivan Stephens accused of cashing county checks, keeping the money

A Cobb County government employee has been arrested and accused of cashing checks made out to the county and keeping the cash, according to an arrest warrant.

According to a warrant, Ivan Jamin Stephens, a Smyrna resident, has been charged with forgery and two counts of theft by deception related to the accusation.

Investigators say Stephens allegedly wrote his name above the intended recipient of the check, the Cobb County Civic Center, cashed it and kept the money "for his personal benefit" between May 12 and Tuesday.

Stephens allegedly cashed a check for $4,600 meant for the county’s parks and recreation department and kept the funds, the warrant states.

Stephens was fired Tuesday after admitting to the ”offense to both authorities and the county, according to AikWah Leow, spokesperson for the county.