The Elgin city clerk has been charged with theft.
The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office has taken 62-year old Rhonda Faye Dales of Clermont into custody following an investigation.
The State Auditor’s Office says the investigation was requested by Elgin city officials after concerns arose regarding certain financial transactions processed by Dales during her time as city clerk from October 2017 through June 2021.
State Auditor Rob Sand says the investigation identified over $131,000 in improper disbursements, including over $104,000 of unauthorized payroll and additional checks issued to Dales and related payroll costs, over $19,000 of unauthorized reimbursements issued to Dales and nearly $6,000 of excess insurance premium payments issued to Dales. There were also personal purchases made using the City’s debit card and interest and late fees to IPERS.
The investigation also identified over $7,500 of unsupported disbursements, including nearly $6,600 of reimbursements issued to Dales and over $900 of purchases made with the City’s debit card.
On March 7th, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office completed an investigation turned over by the Fayette County Attorney’s Office based on that report conducted by the State Auditor’s Office.
Dales was charged with First Degree Theft. She will make a court appearance on the charges at a later date.
