Former Masonville city clerk pleads guilty to mail fraud

Former Masonville city clerk pleaded guilty Monday in federal court to defrauding the city of more than $80,000.

Christine Anne King, 42, of Strawberry Point, pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud. According to a plea agreement, King admitted from July 2002 through October 2011, while working as the city clerk, she routinely issued herself fraudulent payroll and expense reimbursement checks. King also admitted to fraudulently inflating the city's bank account balances on reports King provided to the city council and to the state auditor in order to conceal her fraud.

King, also prepared a yearly financial report for the city and one for the state auditor, as part of her job, and fraudulent 2009 and 2010 financial reports were sent to the auditor, according to the indictment.

According to a state auditor report in February 2013, more than $80,000 was misappropriated.

Sentencing hasn't been set at this time. King faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. King will remain free on conditions of release previously set pending sentencing.

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