Linda Tarlecki

By Jillian Pikora From Daily Voice

A former Pennsylvania township supervisor who stole over $147,000 from the township — much of it spent on lottery tickets — has been sentenced to federal prison, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced on Wednesday, Nov. 26.

Linda Tarlecki, 63, of Aristes, was ordered to serve 12 months and one day after admitting she drafted duplicate payroll checks, forged reimbursements, and hid thousands of dollars in untaxed income for years, federal prosecutors said.

Fraud Scheme Spanned Years

Tarlecki served as a township supervisor and secretary/treasurer from 2006 to 2018. At her guilty plea hearing in July, she admitted that between 2013 and 2017, she wrote herself fraudulent payroll checks and claimed reimbursements for supplies and mileage that never existed, according to the U.S. Attorney.

Investigators found she misappropriated more than $147,000 from Conyngham Township and failed to pay income taxes on the stolen money, causing an additional $38,000 loss to the IRS.

IRS-Criminal Investigation, Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission led the investigation.

‘Lotto Linda’ And The Lottery Habit

Ethics investigators previously revealed that Tarlecki was known locally as “Lotto Linda,” routinely appearing at gas stations to buy scratch-offs and other lottery tickets. From 2011 to 2017, she won over $120,000 in lottery prizes, the commission said.

Her fraudulent reimbursements raised red flags years earlier — including one month where she claimed 1,300 miles in travel for a township that spans just six square miles.

She was first arrested by Pennsylvania State Police in 2019, who accused her of writing 291 checks to herself totaling $180,826. Those charges were later dropped when the U.S. Attorney’s Office took over the case and charged her federally with bank fraud and tax evasion.

Sentencing Hearing In Williamsport

Chief U.S. District Judge Matthew W. Brann sentenced her on Wednesday in Williamsport.

Before receiving her sentence, Tarlecki read a prepared apology to the court.

“I take complete and full responsibility and accountability for my actions,” she said. “I am addicted to gambling. And I’m here to say sorry to the people of Conyngham Township.”

Her attorney argued she should receive probation so she could care for her 96-year-old father, who is gravely ill. Prosecutors pushed back, arguing her crimes continue to hurt taxpayers and the township today.

The judge ultimately ruled her offenses were not “sophisticated,” but emphasized she “abused her position” as a public official.

Tarlecki arrived with a $35,000 check for the IRS at the hearing, her attorney said.

Restitution And Restrictions

Tarlecki must pay $187,427 in restitution — including funds owed to the township’s insurance carrier and the IRS — and will be on supervised release for two years after prison.

Her conditions include:

  • No gambling of any kind, including scratch-offs, casinos, and racetracks.
  • Mandatory gambling addiction and mental health treatment.
  • No jobs involving access to money without prior approval.
  • No new credit cards or lines of credit without permission.

Judge Brann granted her request to serve her sentence at the federal prison in Alderson, West Virginia, if a bed becomes available. She must report by Monday, Jan. 5.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey W. MacArthur prosecuted the case.