EAGLE, Colo. (AP) — A former Eagle County employee has pleaded guilty to embezzling tens of thousands from taxpayers.
The Vail Daily newspaper reports (http://bit.ly/1GLVoQj ) that 55-year-old Brenda Wright pleaded guilty Monday to theft and embezzlement of public property, both felonies. She will be sentenced in July.
The exact amount is a point of disagreement, with prosecutors saying she took more than $158,000 including interest, and Wright’s attorney saying that number is inflated by about $20,000.
Wright voluntarily contacted the Eagle Police Department about the crime and turned herself in.
The money came from a 2 percent tax on vendors who rent vehicles such as cars, trucks and construction equipment. Wright said she was skimming from that fund.
Wright has already placed $150,000 in the court’s accounts to repay the money.
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Information from: Vail Daily, http://www.vaildaily.com/
