Video Poker 24/7 - Video Poker Leads to Theft

Video Poker 247 - Video Poker Leads to Theft

Kathi Alford was a pillar in her community. The 52 year old was Lake Oswego’s former head of emergency communications and their unsworn administrative police captain. However, she was also a video poker addict and a thief, but no one knew that until it was too late.

Alford worked for the county for 15 years and during that time she allegedly stole $55,000 from the Oregon Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials. It is believed that the money went to her video poker addiction.

The theft was not discovered until after she retired in June 2005, and her former co-workers say that they are shocked by the allegations – so shocked that many didn’t believe it to be true until Alford herself pled guilty in court. She was sentenced to 19 months in prison and must pay back $10,000.

For ten of the years that she worked for them, Alford was in charge of collecting APCO’s vendors’ fees. She set up an account to deposit the checks in 1996 and withdrew the money to play video poker. When she retired they discovered the $55,000 shortage which is twice their annual budget. Alford repaid the majority of the debt with the $10,000 still remaining unpaid.

Alford is not the first one to use state funds for video poker. Elma Magkamit was found guilty of stealing funds from the city of West Linn to fund her video poker and slot machine habits as well.

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