Former Owen County auditor sentenced to 20 months in federal prison

TERRE HAUTE -- United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler Wednesday announced the sentencing of the former Owen County auditor Angela Lawson, 57, Gosport, to 20 months in federal prison by U. S. District Judge William T. Lawrence after her conviction on five counts of theft concerning programs receiving federal funding.

"The citizens of Owen County deserve elected officials whom they can trust to be fiscally responsible and to do the right thing," Minkler said. "When that trust is betrayed, it shakes the foundation of our democracy and weakens the effectiveness of local government."

Lawson served as the elected auditor of Owen County from 2005 through 2012 and as chief deputy auditor from January 2013 through Aug. 14, 2014. She also served as an Owen County Council member from January 2013 through December 2014.

In the scope of her employment, Lawson possessed the authority to make public expenditures on behalf of Owen County through a credit card account at Walmart.

During her time in office, Lawson had access to separate credit cards which were issued to various authorized buyers. Over the period March 1, 2010, through Dec. 31, 2014, Lawson stole nearly $310,000 and used it to pay personal expenses that included food, alcohol, gift cards, toys, jewelry and vacations.

The investigation was a collaborative effort between the United States Postal Inspection Service, Indiana State Police, Indiana State Board of Accounts and Robert Cline, special prosecutor.

Drug and Violent Crime Chief Bradley Blackington, who prosecuted this case for the government, said Lawson must serve three years of supervised release after her sentence and repay more than $300,000 in restitution.