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Law

Iowa Auditor Seeks Mandatory Prison for Public Money Theft

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand is proposing legislation requiring mandatory prison time for those convicted of theft involving public money.

Sand's proposal comes just days after an investigative story by Cedar Rapids television station KCRG that found only about 40% of Sands' special investigative audit reports dating to January 2017 led to criminal prosecution. KCRG calculated that meant no one has been held responsible for at least $8 million in improperly used public funds.

On Thursday, Sand told KCRG that his bill will require mandatory prison time for felonies involving the theft of $1,000 or more in public money, as well as for misusing tax credits.

Sand says his proposal will not have a mandatory minimum sentence but seeks to stop those convicted of serious financial crimes receiving only probation.