Fire Department Embezzlement Lands Pecatonica Couple In Jail

A couple from Pecatonica was sentenced to six months in jail Friday for stealing money from the Pecatonica Fire Protection District.

Brenda A. Samuelson, 49, and Donald B. Samuelson, 57, were also ordered to pay $155,000 that was stolen from the department.

The two pleaded guilty in January to theft of governmental property, conspiracy to commit theft and five counts of forgery.

Brenda Samuelson, who worked as a bookkeeper for the fire department, wrote unauthorized payroll checks to both her and her husband Donald even though he was not employed by the fire department.