Do you think this could go on in a private company?

Workers Used County Credit Cards for Personal Purchases, report

The employees allegedly bought big-ticket items like LCD TVs and grills for personal use.

LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles County employees are coming under fire for allegedly using county-issued credit cards to buy big-ticket items like DVD players, LCD televisions and barbecue grills for personal use.

The purchases were made at Best Buy, Sears and Home Depot and, at times, were made in split purchases, perhaps to avoid calling attention to a single large purchase, the Los Angeles Times is reporting.

The allegations are contained in an investigation being carried out by the Los Angeles County Auditor-Controller's office. Top county officials are still awaiting the final report.

"I will tell you that when I looked at it, I was outraged," County Chief Executive William Fujioka told the Times. "I told my folks to immediately start working with the [district attorney] on it."

"I think the hammer will come down very hard," added Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas.

Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, who was briefed on the credit card caper, said we've seen only "the tip of the iceberg" when it comes to department wrongdoings.