Quiet Hero

Quiet Hero

The Discovery

The unlikely hero was only acting as a temp, filling in for the regular comptroller/treasurer (C/T) of this small city/ big town who was on an extended vacation. Her full-time position was as a municipal clerk (MC). This in-depth bookkeeping work was above her pay scale but with budget cuts and deficits she was forced to do double duty. She'd been wrestling with the numbers but being under time restraints she finally gave up trying to remember the names of all the accounts and simply requested statements on all of the city's accounts from the local bank so she could sort them out more leisurely. Little did she know this simple step led her to be a quiet hero.

The trust-worthy bank turned over six accounts. All the usual ones a small city with a population of 16,000 would be expected to have such as a capital development fund, a sales tax fund, a motor fuel fund and so on. But there was also an unexpected sixth account labeled as the Reserve Sewer Capital Development Account, RSCDA for short. She checked and rechecked but still didn't have a clue as to what it referred. Maybe the Mayor would be acquainted with the books so she took her question to him.

The elected official did not have any knowledge of this rogue account either. Together they tried to discover exactly what it was used for. Evidence was mounting that something was amiss involving the sole person in charge of all these accounts, the C/T. As a precaution they swore each other to secrecy and called in the FBI for a thorough investigation so they wouldn't falsely accuse a trusted long-time employee with any misdeeds.

The Investigation

It was six months before the investigation was completed. That six months took a toll on the mental and physical health of the secret keepers. What the investigation revealed took another toll. And the aftermath leeched even more.

The evidence was undeniable. Funds were shuffled from one account to another using cleverly disguised labels but somewhere there was a siphon draining millions of taxpayer dollars into the pocket of one emboldened embezzler. Nearly identical amounts disappearing from city coffers matched with personal expenditures not possible on a city employee's modest salary. One time the stolen amount in the millions was larger than the whole city budget for that time period. And the thefts had been going on for twenty-two years. Nearly from the beginning of the C/T's employment.

The Public Life

In her public life this C/T was known as a well liked, trust-worthy, hard working, meticulous book keeper serving the community for years. She was generous with her friends and a joy to work with and be around.

The Private Life

In private life she lived an extravagant lifestyle running a thoroughbred horse breeding farm and traveling to races wearing lots of jewels and designer western wear. She enjoyed things like high-priced jewelry, boats, a two-million dollar motor home, lavish home improvements, a second home in a tropical climate, luxury vehicles, race horses and related gear like fancy saddles.

The Effects

Its no wonder the city went wanting. Maintenance deferred on infrastructure, budget cuts, layoffs, positions eliminated, vehicles in poor repair and never replaced, etc. Shortages were explained away by lack of payments from the state or the economic downturn of the nation. No one ever questioned it. Had to accept the facts. The city learned to live with deficits and tightened its belt even more. So what if a few more sink holes developed in the older part of town from crumbling pipes and concrete. And the potholed streets tore apart vehicles.

The Collision

The culprit was led away in handcuffs in front of city hall the day her two lives collided. Once convicted the guilty party was sentenced to nearly twenty years in federal prison.

The town was in an uproar and took it out on council members voting them all out as soon as possible even though they were not at fault except by perception. No one ever noticed? One councilman that left office before this all took place complimented the guilty party saying 'she spends every dollar as if it was her own'. He had no idea how prophetic his statement was.

The Aftermath

The former government used with elected officials was supposed to guarantee one mayor would never wield too much power. But no one had checks and balances on an unelected treasurer. Soon the whole form of city government was changed. Instead of elected councilmen and a mayor, they now have an appointed city manager that acts more like a CEO of a company with operating checks and balances.

With help from U.S. Marshalls some of the money was clawed back auctioning off assets. 21 million dollars in debt was paid off before the city spent anything on infrastructure, beautification and other improvements. Now the artsy town is experiencing a rural renaissance with entrepreneurial efforts. Yet some residents still complain of never receiving any benefits back like tax cuts or lower utility bills.

Even though the city wasn't notified, the convict was released after eight years in prison due to poor health and age during the Covid epidemic. Restricted to home guard she supposedly came back to her home town to live with her brother but he denies it. Residents are not pleased if she is once again in their midst.

The long time Mayor, already in poor health, declined more rapidly and died within a year of the C/T's arrest. The quiet hero (the MC) throughout the ordeal had enough of the talk and answering questions. Even though a citizen had suggested the city declare a day in her honor it never came to be even though she did receive an award from a whistle blower organization. Shortly after the sentencing she resigned her position and moved out of town ready to focus on her own health.

The pretty river-front historical town once known for its flowers, fishing, a favorite son and business giants now is also known as the home of the largest municipal fraud in United States history.