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BOTTINEAU - The former director of the Bottineau Economic Development Corp. has been charged with theft in Northeast District Court in connection with more than $600,000 in suspected unauthorized expenditures from the EDC and City of Kramer..
Whitney Lynn Gonitzke, 46, Kramer, is awaiting the rescheduling of an initial appearance in court on the Class A felony.
According to the court affidavit filed Sept. 18, the City of Kramer and Bottineau EDC. separately reported suspected unauthorized expenditures and use of funds by Gonitzke to the Bottineau County Sheriff's Office. An investigation found numerous checks and other transactions made payable to Gonizke or otherwise benefitting her personally. Both Kramer and the Bottineau EDC reported financial documents and other records were missing.
From Kramer financial records, the investigation found $60,000 of expenditures were determined to be unauthorized, including about $33,091 in funds granted to the city by the Newburg Community Club. The law enforcement investigator was advised Gonitzke was authorized to receive compensation from the City of Kramer every six months. The financial review identified payments on a monthly basis.
Records showed that on March 13 and 14, 2019, Gonitzke issued payments to herself that represented compensation for the first three months of the year. Monthly payments then began.
The affidavit stated the Bottineau EDC had an audit conducted after suspecting unauthorized activity on its accounts, which identified about $547,591 in suspected unauthorized credit card charges and checks.
Acting on a search warrant, law enforcement found documents belonging to or associated with the Bottineau EDC and containing government and financial information at Gonitzke's residence, along with a Bottineau EDC credit card. The search located personal tax information belonging to two individuals that had been entrusted to the Bottineau EDC, which serves both the City of Bottineau and Bottineau County.
During an interview with law enforcement, Gonitzke admitted to about $112,577.82 in checks issued to herself from Bottineau EDC bank accounts and acknowledged the use of EDC credit cards.
The maximum penalty for a Class A felony in North Dakota is 20 years confinement and/or a fine of $20,000.