Former Ecru city clerk enters open plea to embezzlement by a public official

ECRU, Miss. (WCBI) – A former Ecru City Clerk was sentenced to a total of 60 years in prison, but may not have to serve any time behind bars.

Gretchen Moody entered an open plea to embezzlement by a public official in Pontotoc County Circuit Court.

Moody was accused of taking money being paid as fines and converting it to private use. She was also charged with using the City of Ecru’s credit card to make personal purchases, and giving herself extra paychecks.

The State Auditor’s office began investigating in 2016.

Moody was indicted by a grand jury in September 2017.

She was sentenced to 20 years in prison on the first count with 10 suspended and 5 on house arrest, and ordered to pay restitution of over 183 thousand dollars.

She will avoid any jail time if she serves out the five year house arrest and pays full restitution in that time.

She was also sentenced to 20 years each on two other counts, but those will be retired if terms of house arrest are met.

She has already repaid $75,000.