City Worker Gets Prison for Swiping $2 Mil.

DALLAS (CN) – A former risk management adjustor for Garland, Texas was sentenced Friday to 57 months in prison for conspiring to embezzle $1.9 million from the city. Patricia Leathers, 62, of Rowlett, also was ordered to pay $1,968,479 in restitution.     U.S. District Judge Sidney A. Fitzwater delivered the sentence.Leathers was responsible for investigating and resolving third-party liability claims against the city.     She admitted that from 1994 to March 2008, she conspired with others to embezzle more than $1.9 million from the city by creating false claims for damages and repairs to personal and real property.      The reimbursement checks, issued in the true names of co-conspirators and in fictitious names, were cashed by co-conspirators, who shared the proceeds with Leathers.     Leathers pleaded guilty in December 2010. Her sister, Connie Powell, 59, of Garland, also pleaded guilty to her role in the conspiracy. She was sentenced to 3 years of probation and ordered to pay more than $64,000 in restitution.     Leathers must surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on July 26.

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