Danielle Painter, a 41-year-old former City Clerk/Treasurer from Fruitland, has entered a guilty plea to wire fraud in connection with using New Plymouth city credit cards for unauthorized purchases, as announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott.
Court records indicate that Painter held her position from 2012 to 2023. Her role included managing various accounting tasks such as recording credit card charges, issuing payments, and keeping credit card statements.
From 2017 to 2023, Painter executed a scheme to defraud the city by using municipal credit cards for personal expenses, including retail, dining, clothing, travel, concerts, housing, and medical costs. This led to $196,947.87 in unauthorized charges. Painter attempted to conceal the fraud by classifying many of these expenses as professional services in the city’s accounting records.
Idaho State Police's Investigative Lieutenant Jack Catlin remarked, “The Idaho State Police takes our responsibility seriously to uphold public trust and protect taxpayer dollars. This case demonstrates the strength of our partnerships with local and federal agencies and our shared commitment to holding individuals accountable when that trust is violated.”
Sentencing by U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford is scheduled for August 5, 2025. The wire fraud charge could result in a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.
Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott acknowledged the Idaho State Police's investigation as pivotal in bringing forth the charges. The case is prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Mazorol.