Marion woman charged with embezzling funds from City Water Dept. | Crime

MARION, IL (KFVS) - A Marion woman was indicted by a grand jury and charged with three counts of embezzlement and theft.

Linda Heyde, 59, faces a statutory maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and mandatory restitution. Stephen R. Wiggins, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois says the indictment also seeks forfeiture of $524,100 in criminal proceeds.

The indictment alleges that Heyde, from 1996 through May 2012, engaged in a scheme to defraud the City of Marion Water Department while she was the water department's manager. Heyde had primary control over the billing accounts.

According to Wiggins, the indictment alleges that the Marion Police Department was advised that Heyde was handling the water department's deposit funds in a suspicious manner and that daily bank deposits did not contain cash.

The police department installed covert cameras in the water department to monitor suspicious activities of Heyde. They say Heyde was seen on camera placing money in her purse. An audit was performed and showed that falsified adjustments had been made to customer accounts resulting in about $500,000 in missing funds.

The indictment is the result of an investigation conducted by the Marion Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Norman R. Smith.

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