Freeborn County Commissioner Linda Tuttle charged with felony theft

Freeborn County Commissioner Linda Tuttle has been charged with one count of felony theft.

Prosecutors say the 59-year-old used a complex check-writing scheme to funnel almost $50,000 through her title company.

The Albert Lea Tribune reports that she was released Thursday on $100,000 bail.

Tuttle is in her first term as commissioner for District 5. She owns Albert Lea Abstract & Title Co., which investigators searched Tuesday.

Her home number is unlisted, and a message left at her company Friday was not immediately returned.

The theft charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.

The alleged scheme is called check kiting, which involves shifting funds from one account to another to artificially inflate the balance.

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Information from: Albert Lea Tribune

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