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Former Clerk Who Stole From City By Giving Herself Unearned Pay Raise, Overtime Sentenced

Posted on April 8, 2015

Justice-DepartWICHITA, KS—A former city clerk of Altoona, Kan., was sentenced Tuesday to six months in jail for bank fraud, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said. She also was ordered to pay more than $47,000 in restitution to the city of Altoona.

Chrystal Scherbarth, 31, Altoona, Kan., was ordered to pay more than $47,000.

Scherbarth plead guilty to one count of bank fraud. In her plea, she admitted the crime occurred while she was employed as city clerk. She used her access to the city’s accounts at the First Neodesha Bank to commit the crime, officials said.

Authorities said the city of Altoona suffered a total loss of more than $47,800. Scherbarth diverted money from the city by fraudulently increasing her own hourly pay, fraudulently paying herself for overtime, fraudulently crediting herself with unearned paid vacation and fraudulently crediting herself with unearned sick leave.

 

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