Ex-city worker accused of stealing from downstate Wood River

WOOD RIVER, Ill. — The former assistant finance director of the southwestern Illinois city of Wood River is accused of embezzling nearly $143,000 from city accounts.

Madison County prosecutors have charged 41-year-old Leslie Dona with theft of over $100,000, money laundering and official misconduct.

Authorities allege that Dona issued unauthorized checks to herself from city funds and pocketed the money.

The city’s police chief says Dona altered software, destroyed records, manipulated funds and generated false reports to hide the transactions. Yearly audits by two outside accounting firms failed to disclose the discrepancies.

A message seeking comment Friday at Dona’s home was not returned. Online court records do not show whether she has an attorney.

Dona is jailed on $500,000 bond.