Former Dubuque Catholic schools employee sentenced to prison for theft

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Dubuque, IA-  A former technology director at a private Catholic school in Dubuque has been sentenced to over 3 years in prison for theft.

Radio Iowa’s Dar Danielson reports that 50-year-old Todd Wessels of Dubuque pleaded guilty in November to one once of wire fraud. He admitted that when he was the technology director for the Holy Family Catholic Schools he purchased prepaid debit cards.

Wessels then transferred the balances on the cards to his personal account. He admitted he used more than $500,000 for things like food and travel expenses for himself and his family.

The school district was experiencing financial difficulties and closing a number of schools as a result.

Wessels was sentenced to 41 months in prison and ordered to pay more than $503,000 in restitution and nearly $4,000 in the district’s legal expenses.