DECATUR, Ga. (AP) — A federal audit has found that inflated crime statistics helped DeKalb County secure more than $2.3 million in criminal justice grants.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (http://bit.ly/1tG4gEy ) reports a U.S. Inspector General audit found that DeKalb County inflated crime statistics in federal grant applications between 2009 and 2013.

County Police Chief Cedric Alexander called the issue an egregious error and said none of the people who may have been responsible still work the county.

Federal officials said the county's grant manager told investigators the statistics came from the police department's grant coordinator. The coordinator told federal officials the statistics were obtained from the department's crime analysis unit and she was unaware of the source of their information.

Acting Deputy Inspector General Robert P. Storch says the money may have to be returned.

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