The former treasurer of the southern Illinois town of Zeigler has admitted to stealing hundreds of thousands in government funds.
The U.S. attorney says 44-year-old Ryan Thorpe pleaded guilty to five counts of wire fraud and embezzlement.
He admitted to stealing more than $321,000 from the city of Ziegler between March 2013 and August 2017.
Thorpe says he concealed the thefts by altering copies of the checks that were sent to the city each month. Then, he submitted false monthly reports to the City Council.
As part of his plea agreement, Thorpe agreed to provide the city with several items he purchased with the embezzled funds. They include two motorcycles; a lady's diamond ring, several firearms and a drone. He also agreed to forfeit assets, such as six vacant lots and two retirement accounts.
Thorpe will be sentenced on June 12th. He faces up to 20 years in prison on each of the three wire fraud counts and up to ten years on each of the two embezzlement counts.
