Former City of Marion Water Department Manager Pleads Guilty to Embezzling Funds
| U.S. Attorney’s Office May 22, 2013 |
Linda Heyde, 59, of Marion, Illinois, pled guilty in United States District Court to three counts of theft and embezzlement from a local government that receives federal funds, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced. Each count carries a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years’ supervised release following any jail term, a $250,000 fine, a $100 mandatory special assessment, and mandatory restitution. Sentencing is scheduled for September 20, 2013.
Evidence revealed in court at the plea showed that Heyde had been employed as the manager of the city of Marion Water Department from 1996 through May 2012. After being caught stealing funds, an audit was conducted that determined that there was over $500,000 in missing funds for a three year period of May 2009 through April 2012. Heyde admitted as part of the plea to embezzling funds from the city of Marion’s Water Department in each of those fiscal years but is contesting the total loss amount.
The prosecution is the result of an investigation conducted by the City of Marion Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Norman R. Smith.