Linn County Sheriff Jim Yon reports that on January 19, 2021, his Detectives arrested Angela Renee Adams, 48, in connection to an embezzlement investigation of the Linn County Planning and Building Department. In March of 2020, a Linn County employee told the Linn County Administrative Officer that they suspected the Linn County Planning and Building Office Manager, Angela Adams, was stealing from the department. The Linn County Administrative Officer requested a financial audit of the Planning and Building Department after receiving the complaint. The audit was concluded in November of 2020 and revealed some financial discrepancies. The Linn County Administrative Officer requested the Linn County Sheriff’s Office conduct a criminal investigation.
Detectives interviewed numerous Linn County Employees and served a search warrant and numerous subpoenas related to the investigation. Detectives were able to determine that approximately $235,000 of cash payments made to Linn County Planning and Building had not been deposited with the Linn County Treasurer in the last eight years. Detectives were able to see receipts for cash payments had been deleted from the permit software but were able to recover them with the assistance of the Linn County Information Technology Department who had the files backed up in the archive system.
Angela Adams was arrested and lodged in the Linn County Jail for ten counts of Aggravated Theft in the First Degree and two counts of Theft in the First Degree. The investigation is on-going. If you have any information on this case, please contact Detective Matt Wilcox at (541) 967-3950.