Lots of people want to lose weight. It's a pretty common theme across the US. And they've been trying out GLP-1s like Ozempic. But most don't go this far about it.
A Texas town has been embroiled in a scandal after a city official spent thousands on TikTok Shop weight loss drugs, as reported by the Daily Mail. Ken Padilla, the mayor of Campbell, confirmed that 3.5% of the city's budget was used in 150 unauthorized credit card charges. They happened over a period of a year, between 2024 and 2025. The total? An absolutely eyewatering $28,000.
The city's secretary, Trisha Lowery, told a city council meeting this Monday March 16 that no-one knows who made the charges. And before you say it - yes, she was hired after the money was taken. She's not covering for herself, or anything also suspicious like that.
"I cannot tell you one way or the other who mde these transactions. Obviously, we all have our own opinion on who did them and how they transpired... There has to be some sort of individual identifying information that says this person used this card," she said.
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The Mysterious Official Used the Funds For More Than Just Ozempic
Apparently, the embezzled funds were used for more than just Ozempic. Whilst $11.2k was used on suspected "personal retail", the other $27k was spread between things like Spectrum bills, water utility bills, and even $350 at a gym.
Whilst you'd expect their name to be found out after a little detective work, nothing's been done thus far. A complete lack of answers has made residents angry and frustrated at the whole incident.
A resident in the town, James Steen, expressed his frustration. "Why is it small towns? Yeah, I'm upset," he said. "I see it happening everywhere else, but when it happens here at home, you know it hurts... to know that somebody would've been dishonest like that. Shame on you. Your parents should've taught you better."
It really is wild. But, we hope that the perpetrator is caught in due course, and they face justice. Small towns don't need this kind of hubbub.
