Ex-Alburnett clerk on probation for theft

CEDAR RAPIDS - A former Alburnett city clerk received a 10-year suspended prison sentence and five years of probation for embezzling more than $37,000 from the city between 2006 and 2009.

Amber Ransom, formerly Amber Franklin, 45, of Alburnett, was sentenced Monday in Linn County District Court for first-degree theft. She pleaded guilty to the charge in February.

According to a state audit report, $102,980 was misappropriated during Ransom's employment as the city clerk. Assistant Linn County Attorney Nic Scott said the $37,013 - which she must repay - was an amount the state could prove she embezzled if the case had gone to trial.

At her plea hearing in February, Ransom admitted to embezzling that amount and claimed the rest of the missing money was a result of improper or bad accounting methods.