Former La Porte auditor sentenced for embezzlement

A former chief deputy auditor of La Porte County was sentenced on federal charges of embezzlement, tax fraud and wire fraud on Wednesday.

Mary Ray, 68, was sentenced to 84 months in prison for embezzling over $150,000 from the La Porte County government, making false statements on a tax return and for defrauding her father-in-law of over $600,000.

Ray was also ordered to forfeit $137,249.59 and pay $801,315.66 in restitution as part of her sentence.

During trial, evidence was presented that Ray used the illegally obtained money to gamble at casinos.