Danielle Painter, a former City Clerk and Treasurer for the City of New Plymouth, Idaho, has been sentenced to 15 months in federal prison after being found guilty of stealing more than $196,000 from the city. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis.
Painter, 41, worked for the city from 2012 until 2023. Her responsibilities included managing accounting functions such as recording and coding credit card charges, issuing electronic payments, and keeping credit card statements.
According to court records, between 2017 and 2023 Painter used city-issued credit cards to pay for personal expenses without authorization. These expenses covered retail purchases, restaurants, clothing, travel, concerts, utility bills and rent payments, as well as medical costs. The total amount of unauthorized charges reached $196,947.87 during this period. To conceal her actions, Painter recorded many of these personal expenses as professional services within the city’s internal accounting system.
U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford ordered that Painter serve three years of supervised release after completing her prison term and pay restitution totaling $196,947.87.
U.S. Attorney Davis recognized the Idaho State Police for their investigative work that resulted in the charges against Painter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Mazorol prosecuted the case.
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