In Seattle, the former Clerk-Treasurer for Morton, a city in Lewis County, faces federal charges of wire fraud due to an alleged nine-year endeavor to embezzle nearly $1 million from city funds. This was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Tamara (Tammy) Clevenger held the position from 2012 until 2022. An audit by the Washington State Auditor in 2024 discovered embezzlements amounting to $937,584. Clevenger is anticipated to plead to the charges next month.
Acting U.S. Attorney Miller remarked, "I commend the State Auditor’s Office for their good work on this case. It is critical that all of our government entities have multiple safeguards in place to prevent the theft of hard-earned taxpayer dollars."
As per the charging information, Clevenger is accused of employing various methods to misappropriate funds. Between November 2015 and December 2021, she allegedly took at least $311,727 in cash made by citizens for city services. At times, she is reported to have moved funds between city accounts via checks to obscure cash theft. She also purportedly made unauthorized ATM withdrawals using the city's card.
From February 2013 to December 2021, Clevenger allegedly redirected at least $625,857 by writing checks to herself and depositing these into her bank account. It is alleged she utilized checks pre-signed by the mayor meant for emergencies and forged vendor invoices to suggest the checks were for genuine services. To facilitate the fraud, Clevenger's transactions reportedly involved interstate wire transfers, such as a $5,808 fund transfer from Washington to Umpqua bank servers outside the state.
Post-audit, Morton has implemented new measures to ensure one person does not solely control banking functions.
The FBI and IRS collaborated with the Washington State Auditor’s Office in the financial investigation. The charges in this case are allegations, with the presumption of innocence resting with Clevenger unless proven by a court. The use of criminal information suggests preliminary discussions, potentially indicating a case resolution is under negotiation.
Wire fraud charges carry a possible sentence of up to twenty years imprisonment. Assistant United States Attorney Amanda McDowell is leading the prosecution.