Former Lake Geneva library employee to pay $97,546 in restitution for theft
A former City of Lake Geneva Public Library employee was sentenced Wednesday to pay the city $97,546 in restitution for stealing and charging personal purchases on the library’s credit card.
Mercedes A. Mogensen, 45, of W5685 Babcock Drive, Elkhorn, was convicted on two felony counts of theft in business setting and two felony counts of misconduct in office.
She was fired from the Lake Geneva Public Library in June 2008 under accusations of stealing $18,500 from the library and charging $70,000 in personal purchases on the library’s credit card.
She admitted to the crimes after an investigation by the Lake Geneva Police Department.
Judge James Carlson ordered Mogensen to serve 60 day at the Walworth County jail.
For a full story, read Thursday's Janesville Gazette, read online in the Gazette’s E-Edition or check back at GazetteXtra.com or WalworthCountyToday.com.
May 15, 2009 at 4:17 p.m.
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WOW!!! only 60 days? It was worth it to
rip off the city!! I have to admit I am
amazed at the sentencing versus the crime. She basically got NO punishment.
What a DEAL!!!!
May 14, 2009 at 2:48 a.m.
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Embezzlement is almost always a first criminal offense. It is a non-violent crime and the offenders are usually engaged in the community. Once they have a criminal record they will be unable to repeat the crime because they shouldn't be given access to money. There is also a lengthy extended supervision.
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These are notorious crimes but they are not treated nearly as seriously as, for example, armed robbery of much smaller amounts. Those people are dangerous.
May 14, 2009 at 2:13 a.m.
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I bet she can request govt bailout money...
May 13, 2009 at 10:03 p.m.
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That's the second biggest library fine I've ever seen! © Maxwell Smart
May 13, 2009 at 9:51 p.m.
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gma3, actually Quinn took a lot more and I think her jailtime was house arrest....
I think they are all treated too lenient. There's no real punishment except the publicity of it all...
May 13, 2009 at 9:21 p.m.
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Mindy Quinn in the Milton embezzlement case served jail time. She took a lot less than THIS woman. Interesting...
May 13, 2009 at 8:12 p.m.
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I've said this before but I must say it again. Why are embezzlers treated so leniently? Lake Geneva library employee steals $100,000 and gets 60 days?! Another Walworth county woman steals thousands from her employer in Darien, slap on the wrist. Two women in Milton schools steal thousands, slaps on the wrist. I'll never understand it, and if I was ever a victim of embezzlement I would shout to the high heavens for prison time, as well as restitution.
May 13, 2009 at 7:47 p.m.
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think the library credit card has a high enough limit to pay the restitution back?
May 13, 2009 at 6:56 p.m.
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sure, send her a bill and she will write a check that day.
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