JERSEYVILLE, Ill. – Former Jersey County Treasurer, Katie M. Abbey, was charged on May 2, 2025, with theft by deception, a Class 1 felony, for allegedly stealing between $10,000 and $100,000 from the county. The theft occurred between August 2023 and October 2024.
Abbey, who was elected in 2022, took a leave of absence in October 2024 during the investigation and officially resigned in March 2025. The Illinois Attorney General’s Office, after an investigation led by the Illinois State Police, presented the charges.
According to court documents, Abbey falsified “cash slips” and checks drawn on Jersey County bank accounts to steal funds. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul stated that public servants are held to a higher standard and must be held accountable when they violate the public’s trust for personal gain.
The investigation, which started last summer, was prompted by concerns raised during the Jersey County Board meeting in January. The Jersey County Sheriff’s Department began looking into possible misappropriation of public funds, which was later referred to the Illinois State Police along with the involvement of a forensic examiner.
Following Abbey’s resignation, Chief Deputy Treasurer Rebecca Strang was appointed to serve out the remainder of Abbey’s term, which runs through 2026. Strang has indicated she does not plan to run for reelection but intends to return to her previous position once a new treasurer is elected.
Board Chairman Gary Krueger also noted that the investigation revealed the need for the county to improve its policies and procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
