Connell's Mayor Pro Tem accused of ongoing theft
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CONNELL, Wash. -- We're learning more about a major embezzlement case that might bankrupt a local farm. The woman accused of first degree theft and money laundering is a council person and the Mayor Pro Tem of Connell. Deputies say the scheme run by Monica Pruett likely went on for 12 years, netting more than $160,000.
Pruett made a first appearance in court Monday. She is expected to be formally charged by Wednesday. These court documents say Pruett was the bookkeeper for "D&S Farms," and used that power to write checks from the farm to pay her personal bills.
Deputies believe she paid her own property taxes and PUD bills with the farm's money, and even wrote checks to a fake entity that was a combination of her first name and her husband's first name.
Her husband claims to be unaware of his wife's dealings and is not charged. The Mesa farm that lost the money was severely affected, which could result in aggravating charges for theft.
Pruett is a council member for Connell and was made the Mayor Pro Tem earlier this year. Her term runs through 2015.
