Former eastern Iowa city clerk pleads guilty after state audit finds $66K in theft

CONESVILLE, Iowa (KCRG) – A former Conesville city clerk has pleaded guilty to theft and financial crimes after a state audit found nearly $66,000 in improper payments she allegedly made to herself and her family.

Yamira Martinez, of Columbus Junction, pleaded guilty to ongoing criminal conduct, unauthorized use of a credit card over $10,000, and first-degree theft. A forgery charge will be dismissed under the plea agreement.

Martinez served as Conesville’s city clerk from June 2022 through March 2024. Officials in Conesville requested an audit from State Auditor Rob Sand, which covered the period of July 1, 2022, through April 30, 2024.

Sand’s audit found nearly $66,000 in improper payments, more than $53,000 in uncollected and undeposited utility billings, and more than $7,500 in unsupported payments.

“Miss Martinez was interviewed about this. She stated that the 24 checks that were unauthorized payroll and were made to appear like payroll checks, she admitted, were unauthorized. She also stated that the checks were for her kids. When she was asked about personal Amazon purchases, she stated that that was her fault,” Sand said.

The nearly $66,000 in improper payments includes more than $45,000 in payroll and reimbursements paid to Martinez, as well as nearly $12,500 in purchases made using the city’s debit card.

According to Sand’s office, it is unknown whether additional utility transactions were improperly recorded or if there were additional improper payments, as city records were not well-maintained.

Martinez was originally charged with two counts of ongoing criminal conduct, two counts of theft, and two counts related to forgery and fraud.

Martinez is scheduled to be sentenced July 10 at the Muscatine County Courthouse.