Ex-Clarkston councilwoman sentenced for theft
A former Clarkston city councilwoman on Thursday was sentenced to eight months’ home confinement for embezzling more than $75,000 from the Clarkston Community Center.
Swaney, 69, resigned from the city council shortly after being indicted on federal charges in October. Federal prosecutors said she used the money to help pay for medical bills, family vacations, car repairs, a boat charter and other personal expenses.
During the time of the embezzlement, Swaney served as the community center’s office manager, bookkeeper and receptionist.
“If there were a million ways to say I’m sorry for this, I’d stand here and do it,” Swaney told Senior U.S. District Judge Charles Pannell Jr. “I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to make up for this. I’m very, very sorry.”
McKenzie Wren, executive director of the community center, told Pannell that she had been duped by Swaney’s disloyalty and taken advantage of someone whose motto on the city’s website was “live with purpose, act with integrity.”
“Joan Swaney lived in contradiction to her own motto and has been one of the worst things ever to happen to Clarkston,” Wren said. “I wonder how she can live with herself knowing that she betrayed not just me, not just the (community center) but all of the citizens that she was elected to represent.”
Pannell also ordered Swaney to make full restitution of the $75,759 she took from the center. Already, Swaney has repaid $65,320, mostly through contributions from family members and friends.
Pannell gave Swaney another six months to pay the remaining $10,439 in restitution. He also ordered her to perform 100 hours of community service — though not, he said, at the community center.
About the Author
Bill Rankin has been an AJC reporter for more than 30 years. His father, Jim Rankin, worked as an editor for the newspaper for 26 years, retiring in 1986. Bill has primarily covered the state’s court system, doing all he can do to keep the scales of justice on an even keel. Since 2015, he has been the host of the newspaper’s Breakdown podcast.
