CAROLYN AUSTIN ORDERED TO PAY $589,695 IN RESTITUTION TO COMPENSATE THE CITY OF SEYMOUR FOR HER EMBEZZLEMENT SCHEME

MADISON - The Outagamie County Circuit Court has ordered former deputy treasurer-bookkeeper for the City of Seymour to pay $589,695 in restitution to the city in connection with an embezzlement scheme she carried out while employed there, Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced today.

Carolyn M. Austin (46), Depere, WI, was convicted in May of five counts of felony theft and one count of misconduct in public office, also a felony, for embezzling $589,695 from the city between January 2000 and January 2005.  On August 20, 2007, Outagamie County Circuit Court Judge Froehlich sentenced Austin to 15 years, with the first five years to be served in prison and the next 10 years on extended supervision.  Austin was also ordered to serve five additional years on probation consecutive to her 15-year sentence.

In his Order for Restitution issued on October 30, 2007, Judge Froehlich ruled that Austin must pay 25% of all wages and retirement benefit income toward her restitution obligation.  Other income is also subject to this same contribution level, though Judge Froehlich authorized the Department of Corrections to ask him to order a larger contribution.

Judge Froehlich also ordered Austin to surrender to the City all collectibles in her possession, the net proceeds of a personal injury case that is pending and, if it still exists, that she close her deferred compensation account and apply the proceeds after taxes toward restitution.

"I am pleased that Judge Froehlich agreed that the strong public interest in this case supported setting restitution in the full amount embezzled," Van Hollen said.  "Restitution enables victims of Austin's schemes here, indirectly, the taxpayers to recapture some of their loss."

This case was investigated by agents of the Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and was prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Paul L. Barnett.