Franklin County embezzlement case nets 16 years

March 27, 2013 @ 4:03 pm

PASCO, Wash. (AP) - A judge has sentenced a former Franklin County employee to 16 years in prison for embezzlement in what the state auditor called the largest public embezzlement case in state history.

Dennis Huston pleaded guilty in January to theft, money laundering and cocaine possession. He was accused of embezzling $2.8 million, beginning in 1989 until he was fired as Franklin County Public Works accounting director last year.

Huston faced a maximum possible sentence of 25 years. The Tri-City Herald reports that Franklin County Superior Court Judge Vic VanderSchoor sentenced Huston to 16 years Wednesday.

Huston started working for Franklin County about eight months after he was paroled from federal prison. He had been convicted of stealing $142,000 in 1986 while working for the federal Bureau of Reclamation in Montana.

___

Information from: Tri-City Herald, http://www.tri-cityherald.com


(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
More Local News
Top Stories
MyNorthwest.com - Purpose of Comments statement
Bonneville Media encourages site users to express their opinions by posting comments. Our goal is to maintain a civil dialogue in which readers feel comfortable. At times, the comments can descend to personal attacks. Please do not engage in such behavior. We encourage your thoughtful comments which: have a positive and constructive tone, are on topic, are respectful toward others and their opinions. Bonneville reserves the right to remove comments which do not conform to these criteria.

Comments (1)


  • Add A Comment

  • maplefish wrote...
    Excellent Job Screening Pasco!
    March 27, 2013 4:20 pm
    "Huston started working for Franklin County about eight months after he was paroled from federal prison. He had been convicted of stealing $142,000 in 1986 while working for the federal Bureau of Reclamation in Montana". Whoever hired this guy should be in prison as well. Of course, all he probably had to do to get the job was tell the union he's a Democrat and presto - he's in charge of the money!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }