LaPorte County Auditor Charged with Embezzlement

A former LaPorte County deputy auditor has been accused of embezzling over $150,000 from the LaPorte County government and committing tax fraud.

According to an indictment returned on Sept. 10, 2014, Mary Ray, 66, of La Porte, Indiana, is charged with two counts each of theft of government monies and of making false statements on a tax return.

The indictment alleges that from September 2011 through December 2012, while she was working as an auditor, Ray embezzled more than $5,000 from LaPorte County, which had received more than $10,000 in federal benefits in both 2011 and 2012.

Ray is also accused of underreporting her income on her U.S. Individual Tax Returns in 2011 and 2012 by failing to report the embezzled funds, which totals over $150,000.

An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The case was investigated by the FBI and IRS-Criminal Investigation, with assistance from the Indiana State Police, the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department, and the Indiana State Board of Accounts. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Peter Halpern of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald J. Schmid of the Northern District of Indiana.

Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell and U.S. Attorney David Capp made the announcement, stating that Ray’s actions were a betrayal of the public’s trust and that the government will hold her accountable for her alleged crimes.

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