Ex-manager of sewer authorities sentenced for embezzling
The former manager of two sewer authorities will spend three to 23 months behind bars, and must make nearly $120,000 in restitution for embezzling funds. Lori Rankin, 20, of Greensboro pleaded guilty to two counts each of theft by unlawful taking and theft by deception last month in Fayette County Court.
On Wednesday, Senior Judge Conrad B. Capuzzi imposed the sentence, which allows Rankin to serve her time at the Greene County Prison, where she will be eligible for work release. The Fayette County lockup does not offer work release.
Rankin was charged with taking more than $35,000 from the Colonial Joint Sewage Authority and just more than $93,000 from the Redstone Township Sewer Authority between Aug. 1, 2004, and April 30, 2007.
She was the administrative assistant and office manager for the Redstone Township authority and also collected customer payments for the Colonial authority.
Police started investigating Rankin when customers started to complain about checks that were not cashed in a timely manner, and another employee noticed customer receipts in the paper shredder, and found discrepancies in the deposit amount.
Rankin was suspended, and an audit uncovered the losses in both authorities.
Richard Stogran, chairman of the Redstone Township Sewer Authority, told police that some time after the suspension he received a call from Rankin, who said her mother was on the other telephone line. The woman said, “Lori, tell him,” and Rankin then said, “I took money,” before starting to cry, the affidavit states.
Capuzzi ordered Rankin to make $116,950 in restitution to Select Insurance Co. of America, which reimbursed the losses. She was ordered to pay $2,000 to the Redstone Township authority and $1,000 to the Colonial authority, which represent the deductible amounts.