SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Court documents say 56-year-old Peggy VanDeKieft served as the Canton township’s treasurer for 18 years.
Last summer, board members noticed questionable activities in the township’s bank account. After terminating her position immediately, further investigation found that VanDeKieft had stolen nearly $559,267.84 over a seven-year period.
“She pled guilty to one count of embezzlement, which is a class 3 felony in the state of South Dakota. The sentencing agreement was that the state would not ask for more than seven years in the penitentiary. Class 3 felonies to have the opportunity to carry up to 15 years of penitentiary time. So the cap versus the actual allowance under state law was a little bit different,” Lincoln County Deputy State’s Attorney Joseph Meader said.
He added that VanDeKieft did this in four different ways. One was paying herself a salary of $80,000.
“The second one is payments through what’s called State Line Insurance, which we realized is a company that the township has no business relationship with. Those were all fraudulent transactions. And that came out to be just over $38,000,” Meader said.
Meader said VanDeKieft also made up two insurance companies with no relation to the township.
“Townships are a political subdivision. That’s primary purpose, is to utilize taxes to do many different things. But probably one of the primary things they’re in charge of is the infrastructure of their roads,” Meader said.
KELOLAND News reached out to members of the township board. Some were unable to comment, but one said he felt sorry for the financial stress that’s now been placed on the township.
Meader hopes this case can be a lesson to anyone who currently sits in a position of public trust.
“When you violate the public’s trust, that is a serious violation of the law,” Meader said.
The judge sentenced VanDeKieft to five years in prison. She’s also ordered to pay $511,004.04 in restitution to the township.
