Former City Of Marion Water Department Manager Sentenced

Linda Heyde, 59, of Marion, Illinois, was sentenced today in federal court to twenty-four months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $524,100.67 and a $300 special assessment, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced. Heyde pled guilty to three counts of theft and embezzlement from a local government that receives federal funds.

“The public should be able to rely upon employees of government just as they rely upon officials. This sentence should serve a reminder that public employment is a public trust. The citizens of Southern Illinois deserve no less.” said United States Attorney Wigginton.

Heyde was employed as the manager of the City of Marion Water Department from 1996 through May of 2012. After her theft of funds came to light, 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. Linda 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 contested 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 handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Norman R. Smith.