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Leytham sentenced in embezzlement case

Almost to the date of her arrest one year ago, former Garwin City Clerk Anna Lori Leytham, 52, (now Anna Lori Welcher following her divorce) was sentenced to 28 months in federal prison and is obligated to pay $485,629 restitution to the city of Garwin and its insurance company.

Leytham was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids by Chief Judge Linda R. Reade on Monday, June 20 on a theft charge.

On June 16, 2015, Leytham was arrested by Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation agents and Tama County Sheriff’s deputies on five counts of 1st degree theft and a charge of ongoing criminal conduct. She was originally accused of embezzling $562,000 in Garwin city money over the time period of Jan. 1, 2001 to April 30, 2014 while serving as city clerk.

Some of the funds involved federal funding and the case was subsequently transferred from Tama County District?Court to federal jurisdiction where it was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jacob A. Schunk.

Leytham was released frrom custody on Monday and is subject to surrender at a time and place ot be determined according to the court record. She must serve three years supervised probation upon release from prison.

According to a U.S. Attorney’s Office press release, in a plea agreement, Leytham admitted that she held a position of public trust as the city clerk and that her position of trust contributed significantly to the commission and concealment of her crime. At sentencing, she agreed that she stole more than $470,000 from the city, including $397,601.12 she stole to make payments on her personal credit cards. Leytham also agreed she owes more than $485,000 in restitution, which includes costs the city incurred to conduct the audit that discovered the breadth of her crime.

“The citizens of Garwin deserve better from their public officials as do all Iowans,” said United States Attorney Kevin W. Techau. “Betraying the public’s trust and wasting tax dollars is a crime we take very seriously. Those who choose to ignore federal law will be held accountable, just as this sentence holds Ms. Leytham accountable.”

The sentence was handed down over a series of pleas in letters written on behalf of Leytham citing her role as a good mother and grandmother, family member, “a compassionate loving person who loves Jesus” and the victim of an abusive relationship.

“Anna has been a blessing for me since the day she was born,” wrote her father, Roland D. Welcher, in federal documents accompanying the case.

“Her children, all four of them, her grandchildren, all seven of them idolize her, and when she was incarcerated the children and grandchildren were very upset,” he wrote. “When she was released (from the Tama County Jail) they were estatic, they love her very much and they are the world to her.”

Kurt Bacon, wrote he was a member of the Garwin City Council when Leytham served as city clerk.

“I know her as a good mother and grandmother and as a perosn who would help anyone,” Bacon wrote.

“The impact on her family has been painful and her connection with the community is forever ended. I do believe most townspeople, myself included, want this chapter of our town over, and to start to move on to a positive future,” Bacon wrote.

Leytham’s mother, Anna Virginia Perrin, wrote, in part, “Anna Lori has always bee a beautiful person on the inside as well as outside.”

“Anna Lori was an active member of our church all her life,” she wote.

“(She has) been at her daughters side when she was diagnosed with a brain tumor and surgery. Took her to appointments. Kept her five children, prayed, loved and was a rock for her,” wrote Twila Marchant, a first cousin.

Leytham sentenced in embezzlement case

Almost to the date of her arrest one year ago, former Garwin City Clerk Anna Lori Leytham, 52, (now Anna Lori Welcher following her divorce) was sentenced to 28 months in federal prison and is obligated to pay $485,629 restitution to the city of Garwin and its insurance company.

Leytham was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids by Chief Judge Linda R. Reade on Monday, June 20 on a theft charge.

On June 16, 2015, Leytham was arrested by Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation agents and Tama County Sheriff’s deputies on five counts of 1st degree theft and a charge of ongoing criminal conduct. She was originally accused of embezzling $562,000 in Garwin city money over the time period of Jan. 1, 2001 to April 30, 2014 while serving as city clerk.

Some of the funds involved federal funding and the case was subsequently transferred from Tama County District?Court to federal jurisdiction where it was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jacob A. Schunk.

Leytham was released frrom custody on Monday and is subject to surrender at a time and place ot be determined according to the court record. She must serve three years supervised probation upon release from prison.

According to a U.S. Attorney’s Office press release, in a plea agreement, Leytham admitted that she held a position of public trust as the city clerk and that her position of trust contributed significantly to the commission and concealment of her crime. At sentencing, she agreed that she stole more than $470,000 from the city, including $397,601.12 she stole to make payments on her personal credit cards. Leytham also agreed she owes more than $485,000 in restitution, which includes costs the city incurred to conduct the audit that discovered the breadth of her crime.

“The citizens of Garwin deserve better from their public officials as do all Iowans,” said United States Attorney Kevin W. Techau. “Betraying the public’s trust and wasting tax dollars is a crime we take very seriously. Those who choose to ignore federal law will be held accountable, just as this sentence holds Ms. Leytham accountable.”

The sentence was handed down over a series of pleas in letters written on behalf of Leytham citing her role as a good mother and grandmother, family member, “a compassionate loving person who loves Jesus” and the victim of an abusive relationship.

“Anna has been a blessing for me since the day she was born,” wrote her father, Roland D. Welcher, in federal documents accompanying the case.

“Her children, all four of them, her grandchildren, all seven of them idolize her, and when she was incarcerated the children and grandchildren were very upset,” he wrote. “When she was released (from the Tama County Jail) they were estatic, they love her very much and they are the world to her.”

Kurt Bacon, wrote he was a member of the Garwin City Council when Leytham served as city clerk.

“I know her as a good mother and grandmother and as a perosn who would help anyone,” Bacon wrote.

“The impact on her family has been painful and her connection with the community is forever ended. I do believe most townspeople, myself included, want this chapter of our town over, and to start to move on to a positive future,” Bacon wrote.

Leytham’s mother, Anna Virginia Perrin, wrote, in part, “Anna Lori has always bee a beautiful person on the inside as well as outside.”

“Anna Lori was an active member of our church all her life,” she wote.

“(She has) been at her daughters side when she was diagnosed with a brain tumor and surgery. Took her to appointments. Kept her five children, prayed, loved and was a rock for her,” wrote Twila Marchant, a first cousin.