(Council Bluffs, Iowa) — A west central Iowa woman was given a deferred judgment in Pottawattamie County District Court, Thursday, following her plea of guilty in an embezzlement case. According to the Pottawattamie County Attorney’s Office, 55-year-old Staci Lee Ploen, of Dexter, agreed to plead guilty to charges of 1st degree theft – a Class C Felony – and tampering with records – an aggravated misdemeanor. Charges of Ongoing Criminal Conduct, Money Laundering, Fraudulent Practices and Forgery, were dismissed by the Court, in December. Ploen was facing up to 10-years in prison. Instead, she was placed on formal supervised probation for a period of two-years, and 30-days in jail on the tampering charge. Ploen must also pay $100,000 at sentencing.

Ploen – a former Pott. County resident and bookkeeper at Avoca Repair and Towing, was charged in connection with an investigation that began in August, 2021, when the owners of the business discovered information leading to a suspicion that Ploen embezzled from their business.

An investigation determined the activity spanned several years, and resulted in the loss of several hundred thousand dollars. Authorities then obtained a warrant to seize financial records and funds, pending the outcome of the case. A review of information gathered and an interview led to Ploen’s arrest.

More than $200,000 in seized funds were turned over to the victimized business.