NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) – A pair of former Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola officials are facing jail time for stealing at least $160,000.
According to a report by Maya Lau of The Advocate, former Col. Shirley A. Whittington and former Lt. Col. Deborah G. Leonard surrendered at the West Feliciana Parish Jail on Wednesday.
Whittington and Leonard each posted $25,000 bond before being released. Each former Angola employee faces a charge of felony theft over $25,000.
Lau reports in the Advocate that both women resigned last month after audits revealed the pair had stolen funds from the Angola Employee Recreation Committee, which is funded by dues paid by staff members who live at Angola, concession sales from the Angola Prison Rodeo, and fees from the prison’s golf course.
The audits found that Whittington used at least $70,000 from the fund to purchase personal items over a period of nine years, while Leonard also siphoned off at least the same amount.