Former sheriff's department employee pleads guilty to embezzlement

A former employee of the Berrien County Sheriff's Department was sentenced Monday on embezzlement charges, according to Berrien County Prosecutor Michael Sepic.

JoAnn Roberts pleaded guilty to embezzlement $20,000 to $50,000.

She was sentenced to 270 days in jail with the last 90 on a tether, five years probation, 500 hours of community service, fines and costs of $1,858 and restitution in the amount of $79,000. She also may not enter a casino.

Roberts, 66, prepared tether collections for deposit with the county treasurer. She removed cash from tether collection envelopes and deposited the money into her personal account, according to the prosecutor's office.

According to the prosecutor's office, the case was investigated by the Van Buren County Sheriff's Department at the request of the Berrien County Sheriff.

The prosecutor's office says Roberts gambled the money taken from the sheriff's department.