News : Elberon woman sentenced to 2 years in prison for stealing from City of Clutier

Former Clutier City Clerk Sentenced to Nearly Two Years in Federal Prison for Stealing from the City

A woman who formerly worked as the city clerk for the City of Clutier, Iowa, and who committed wire fraud to steal from the city was sentenced today to nearly two years in federal prison.

Keri Kopriva, age 44, from Elberon, Iowa, received the prison term after an October 26, 2023, guilty plea to one count of wire fraud.

Information from a plea agreement and at sentencing showed that Kopriva was working as the city clerk for the City of Clutier between January 2016 and December 2018. During this time, Kopriva stole money from the city in various ways, including writing checks to herself and to family members, using city credit cards for personal expenses, and pocketing money meant for utility payments from citizens of the city. Information at sentencing showed that over the nearly three years, Kopriva stole more than $107,000 from the city.

Kopriva was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Kopriva was sentenced to 21 months' imprisonment. Shewas ordered to make more than $108,000 in restitution to the City of Clutier. must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Kopriva is being held in the United States Marshal's custody until she can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.