Wirtz office manager pleads guilty to $1 million theft

The Illinois attorney general’s office says a northern Illinois woman has pleaded guilty to stealing more than $1 million from her employer.

Officials say 49-year-old Linda Bessert of Winnebago pleaded guilty Friday in Winnebago County circuit court. The judge sentenced Bessert to four years in state prison and two years of mandatory supervised release. Bessert worked in the Rockford office of Schaumburg-based Wirtz Beverage.

Authorities say the office manager processed customer payments and was accused of stealing cash from deposits totaling $1.05 million between July 2004 and October 2010.

Madigan brought the case based on an investigation and referral from the FBI.