A Cando, N.D., woman has been charged with stealing more than $22,000 from the county hospital and economic development corporation where she worked.
Gloria Spencer faces five felony counts of theft, which investigators said happened from July 2000 to December 2002. During that time, Spencer volunteered as treasurer for the Towner County Hospital Auxiliary and served as executive secretary for the Towner County EDC.
The state's Bureau of Criminal Investigations began its probe in late January after a hospital administrator reported suspicious transactions within the auxiliary, Assistant Attorney General Jon Byers said.
Court records say:
Spencer told BCI agent Mark McNamee she had a gambling addiction and had stolen more than $15,000 from the hospital. Most of that was taken through unauthorized checks.
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She also admitted to stealing money from the EDC and paying herself in advance for unworked hours there. She forged checks with signatures of EDC board members and took more than $7,800 with unauthorized withdrawals.
Spencer volunteered for the hospital until January and worked for the EDC until June 26, 2002. She could not be reached for comment.
The amount taken in the Towner County embezzlement case is not exceptionally high compared to similar cases in the state, Byers said.
Spencer is scheduled to appear for her preliminary hearing June 23 in Ramsey County District Court in Devils Lake.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Dave Forster at (701) 241-5538
