Thousands of dollars, including tax money, stolen from Alberta county

A former municipal worker is accused of stealing about $49,000 from Lethbridge County.

Police in Lethbridge, Alta., say the county contacted them in May about an apparent theft and fraud by a staff member.

They say an investigation found that a large sum of money — some from tax payments — had been stolen from the county office between 2016 and 2019.

Brandi Leanne Doucette, a 40-year-old Lethbridge resident, is charged with fraud over $5,000, possession of the proceeds of crime over $5,000 and altering documents.

"We are saddened and disappointed at the outcome of the investigation," Ann Mitchell, the county's chief administrative officer, said in a statement issued Tuesday.

"We want to assure our citizens that although funds were misappropriated, no individual accounts were affected. Lethbridge County has since implemented several additional internal controls to mitigate any future risk and will be seeking restitution from the accused."

Doucette has been released from custody and is to appear in court on Aug. 27.

Police say she is no longer employed by the county.