Federal prosecutors have charged a former Winnebago County purchasing director with embezzling at least $5,000. U.S. Attorney John MacKenzie filed a criminal complaint in federal court against Sally Claassen.
She is charged with two counts of embezzling in 2014 and 2015. The county says she used her county-issued credit card to buy $60,000 worth of personal items.
Claassen ran the northern Illinois county's purchasing department from 1997 until she was placed on administrative leave in August. She resigned in September amid an internal investigation. In December, FBI agents seized nearly $300,000 from bank accounts controlled by Claassen and her husband.
Claassen's attorney says his client is cooperating with the FBI investigation. He called it "a difficult ordeal."
