A 37-year-old woman from Paragould, Leslie Osorio, has been charged with stealing from the city of Kennett following an audit by the State of Missouri. Osorio, who served as the deputy city clerk from January 2020 until March 8, 2022, allegedly overpaid herself and her husband during her tenure.
The theft was uncovered when the city noticed Osorio’s 2021 Form W-2 reported more than $140,000 in wages, which prompted an investigation by the Missouri State Auditor’s office. According to Prosecuting Attorney Nicholas Jain, the auditors found that Osorio had paid herself excess vacation leave, failed to withhold necessary money from her paycheck for benefits, and made unauthorized purchases using city funds.
A judge issued a warrant for Osorio’s arrest following the audit results. Osorio was arrested on Wednesday, February 19, and was released on a $45,000 surety bond.
