Magkamit Stole to Play Slot Machines

Elma Magkamit has a gambling problem, and now she has even bigger legal problems. The 53 year old former finance director for West Linn was sentenced Friday to more than eight years in prison for stealing from the city of West Linn to support her slot machine habit.

Magkamit stole more than $1.4 million for the city to support her love of slot machines and a lifestyle that included Ralph Lauren clothing and thousands of dollars in jewelry. "We had a community that placed very limited resources in the hands of the defendant with the idea that she very carefully, with scrupulous integrity, manage those funds," said Clackamas County Circuit Judge Steven Maurer. "That trust was violated over and over and over again. The impact of that can hardly be exaggerated."

Not only will Magkamit spend time in jail for her slot machine habit, but she must also pay the city back. She agreed to give the city her $100,000 retirement account as well as the proceeds from the sale of her home in Woodburn. She will also be selling her Mercedes SUV and giving the money to the city from that as well. Because of her slot machine addiction and the stealing of those funds from the city, the city’s bond rating has dropped and they have found themselves unable to borrow money.

Her attorney said she had developed a slot machine addiction that she could not shake. Magkamit admitted that she stole the money and used most of it to play the slot machines at Spirit Mountain Casino. She pled guilty to all the charges against her, and read a statement of regret to her family and former co-workers: "I want to apologize to the finest staff that trusted me," she said. "To my mother-in-law and sisters-in-law, please forgive me for bringing terrible shame to what was once a respected family name."

Prosecutors aren’t buying that she had a serious slot machine addiction, they say she didn’t lose her home or car to the addiction, she just stole from the city. They say she liked the thrill of the slot machines and that is all there is to it.

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