2011 Year in Review
Published 12:59 pm Wednesday, January 4, 2012
3. Ex-commissioner Linda Tuttle sent to prison
Linda Tuttle’s lawyer, Kevin O’Connor Green, speaks to reporters Tuesday after his client’s sentencing.
On Aug. 30, U.S. District Court Judge David S. Doty sentenced former Freeborn County Commissioner Linda Tuttle-Olson to 3 1/2 years in federal prison for stealing more than $1 million from the escrow accounts in her business, Albert Lea Abstract Co.
And she was ordered to pay full restitution of $1.32 million, though her lawyer and even victims in the case wondered how she would ever pay it.
Tuttle, through tears, apologized to the judge, the victims and her friends and family prior to the order and said she would serve the sentence that was given.
The sentence came after Tuttle, 60, in April pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, a felony, as part of a plea agreement between her lawyer and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
She admitted to taking funds from the escrow accounts at her business, Albert Lea Abstract Co., and diverting them to her own purposes, much of which went to pursue a gambling addiction at an Iowa casino.
However, prosecutors argued that Tuttle’s theft also went to support an extravagant lifestyle, including shopping and trips.
Her lawyer made reference to Tuttle being on a prescription drug for restless legs syndrome that causes a side effect of compulsive behaviors such as gambling. The federal prosecutor said the case wasn’t about addiction — it was about theft.
She reported to the federal women’s prison in Alderson, W.Va., in September, the same prison where media mogul Martha Stewart spend time behind bars.
Following Tuttle’s release from prison, she will be on supervised release for three years with the U.S. Probation Office and must adhere to a long list of conditions.
The conditions included committing no crimes, having no controlled substances, not possessing firearms or ammunition, cooperating with requests for DNA samples and participating in a psychological counseling program.
Tuttle will be prohibited from opening new lines of credit without prior approval and from taking on any fiduciary responsibilities without prior approval.
Doty also ordered she not participate in any gambling and not go into casinos. This includes online gambling, charitable gambling and even the lottery.
The search of her business and her initial arrest happened in June 2010.
