This story has been updated to include more details, including exclusive comments from the DeWitt Mayor.
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) – “Shocked. Just totally shocked,” is how DeWitt Mayor Sue Leeming says she felt when routine financial audits discovered money missing from both the city’s utility and tax funds.
On Wednesday, former DeWitt Treasurer and Clerk was arraigned on two felony charges of embezzlement in Clinton County District Court.
Court records reveal Lisa Grysen was charged with one count of embezzlement of over $20,000 and one count of embezzlement between $1,000 and $20,000 from a nonprofit or charitable organization.
The charge for over $20,000 was related to her position at the city of DeWitt. The embezzlement from a charitable or nonprofit organization was related to her position as treasurer for the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department Mounted Division.
Warrants for her arrest were approved Monday, and Grysen was then released on bond. Her bond prohibits her from having contact with the city of DeWitt and the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department’s Mounted Division. She was issued a bond of $15,000 cash on each charge.
Grysen is scheduled to be in court on Nov. 22, 2023, at 10:00 a.m.
The former Clerk and Treasurer was escorted from DeWitt City Hall on Aug. 16, officials said on Aug. 28.
While Grysen allegedly targeted the tax and utility funds, Leeming tells 6 News the alleged embezzlement does not impact residents.
“There are absolutely no issues with any of the tax payments from a residential perspective,” she said.
In an exclusive interview with 6 News, Leeming explained the discovery.
“In the process of going through those checks and balances, we noticed some irregularities with the cash funds. and when we followed up on that we determined Ms. Grysen was embezzling funds for us a little more than three years,” she said.
During the meeting, Mayor Sue Leeming told the public and Council Grysen had been fired over “concerning irregularities in connection with city funds.” She was investigated by the Michigan State Police.
6 News called Grysen and stopped by her home. She did not respond. When 6 News arrived at her home, at least two people were visible from the street. However, no one answered the door, and someone turned off the lights inside the home.
In an interview with 6 News, Leeming says there was more than $20,000 taken from the city coffers over three years. She said the city is hoping to get all that money back plus the additional costs arising from a special audit and more.
Following her termination from the city, Grysen came under scrutiny by the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department where she was a volunteer with the department’s mounted division. She also served as the treasurer for the nonprofit organization that runs the Mounted Division.
Leeming said she has worked with Grysen for more than two decades.
“I don’t have words for it,” she said of the shock of the allegations. “It’s been a huge impact on the city. We are very fortunate that our staff have been able to step up”
