Albert Lea Woman Must Pay Back $200K In Public Housing Rent Payments

FREEBORN, MN — An Albert Lea woman was sentenced to a year in prison and must pay $213,217 in restitution after stealing public housing rent payments, U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger announced Friday.

Marcie Marie Thumann, 45, of Albert Lea pleaded guilty on Oct. 12 to one count of theft from a program receiving federal funds.

Between January 2010 and July 2018, Thumann worked as a bookkeeper for the Albert Lea Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA), according to authorities. As a public agency, HRA uses federal and state funds to provide housing for low-income populations.

During her tenure as the HRA’s bookkeeper, Thumann "routinely" embezzled HRA rent payments for her own personal use and benefit, investigators said. She pocketed cash and manipulated the HRA’s computer system to conceal the money she stole, according to authorities.

Thumann embezzled at least $213,217 from the Albert Lea HRA, investigators said.