Government can seize pension of former Iowa job-training director, judge rules

A judge says the government can seize the pension of a former director of an Iowa job-training agency while she's incarcerated on charges that she misspent millions in tax dollars.

U.S. District Judge Robert Pratt ruled Monday that Ramona Cunningham's monthly pension of $2,700 will be seized to pay the $1.65 million in restitution that she and co-defendants owe.

Cunningham was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2008 after pleading guilty to several counts of fraud relating to the misuse of federal funds.

After Cunningham is released, Pratt says 25 percent of her pension can be seized for restitution.

Cunningham is the former chief executive of the Central Iowa Employment and Training Consortium. Prosecutors say she was the ringleader of a plan to misspend millions on bonuses and salaries.