Former Minn. Auditor Sentenced For Stealing Funds

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- A former auditor with the Minnesota Department of Revenue has been sentenced to 60 months in prison for creating false tax refunds and keeping the proceeds.

Prosecutors say 59-year-old Pamela Marie Dellis, of Lindstrom, was responsible for more than 200 fraudulent tax refund payments totaling about $1.9 million from 2005 to 2010.

She was sentenced Wednesday. She had pleaded guilty of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and money laundering.

Last month, Dellis's niece, 29-year-old Laurie Sondrall, of Minneapolis, was sentenced to 27 months on one count of conspiracy. Dellis's sister, 55-year-old Nancy Sondrall, of Brooklyn Center, is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 23.

She also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said all three have to pay back the $1.9 million in restitution.

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