Ex-Niles assistant treasurer pleads guilty to theft

WARREN

Phyllis Wilson, who stole $142,772 over four years as Niles assistant treasurer, has pleaded guilty to theft in office and may have all of her retirement benefits garnished to repay the money.

Wilson, 62, of Russell Avenue in Niles, pleaded guilty Tuesday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court.

She will be sentenced in about four weeks, and Chris Becker, assistant Trumbull County prosecutor, has asked that she serve prison time of up to three years.

Wilson “should be sent to prison because [her] conduct is more serious because the [city] suffered economic harm as a result of the offense,” Becker said in the plea agreement Wilson signed.

He added that Wilson’s conduct is serious because she violated a position of trust in the community.

Becker said he will ask Judge Andrew Logan to garnish “her entire net monthly [public employee retirement system] benefit of $1,176 until the restitution is paid in full.”

A state audit said she took the $142,772 between 2009 and the point when she retired in 2012.