Idaho Falls man sentenced to prison for embezzling $1.7 million
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IDAHO FALLS — An Idaho Falls man has been sentenced to a minimum of six years in prison for embezzling more than $1.7 million from a local potato packing shed and shipping company. He could serve up to 28 years.
Bingham County Prosecutor Cleve Colson announced Saturday, Feb. 20, that Russell Clark Leonardson has been sentenced on two counts of grand theft by embezzlement by District Judge Bruce Pickett.
Leonardson was found guilty of the first grand theft charge for embezzling $779,130.06 from Idaho Select Inc. between July 2007 and June 2014, according to a news release. The Secretary of State’s Office shows Idaho Select is a potato packing facility with an Aberdeen address.
Leonardson was listed as the general manager of the facility on state documents filed by the business in 1996.
Leonardson was found guilty of the second grand theft charge for embezzling $817,779.81 from Select Express LLC between June 2005 and September 2014. Select Express is a freight and shipping company registered in Aberdeen.
Various state documents list Leonardson as a part-owner, manager or vice president of the company.
The sentences are consecutive, which means Leonardson is facing six years fixed, and 22 years indeterminate. He was also given 28 years probation and is required to pay $1.7 million in restitution or face the full 28 years in prison.
As a condition of his probation, Leonardson must also serve 200 hours of community service.
EastIdahoNews.com will have a more in-depth report on this case early next week.