by Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch
October 23, 2025
A City of Jefferson employee has been fired from her job for the alleged theft of citizens’ utility payments.
State unemployment records indicate Joyce D. Richardson, the City of Jefferson’s utility billing clerk, was fired in July for alleged theft, dishonesty, failing to follow policies and procedures, and failing to complete city records as required.
According to the records, Richardson was responsible for receiving the $150 deposits that new utility customers paid when opening their accounts with the city. The deposits could be made electronically or through cash or check.
At a recent hearing on Richardson’s unemployment-benefits claim, city officials testified that on March 25, 2025, the city’s finance officer, Sarah Morlan, and City Clerk Roxanne Gorsuch reported that a cash deposit collected from a new utility customer appeared to be missing.
According to the testimony, an audit into the city’s utility account deposits was conducted, after which it was determined that three cash deposits — made in December 2024, January 2025 and March 2025 — were missing and that all three were handled by Richardson.
In April, city officials asked Richardson to search for the missing deposits, but she allegedly indicated she did not have time due to her “billing preparation” work. She was then placed on unpaid administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation into the matter, and the Greene County Sheriff’s Office was contacted.
According to the state unemployment records, a sheriff’s office investigator prepared a report, with findings, that in late June was forwarded to the Greene County Attorney’s Office for consideration of criminal charges, and to the city and the Office of Auditor of State.
On July 3, 2025, the city fired Richardson. She subsequently filed for unemployment benefits, which led to the recent hearing before Administrative Law Judge Elizabeth Johnson.
State records indicate that at the hearing, Richardson testified she believed the city fired her in retaliation for taking time off to speak with someone about applying for a different job but also testified that none of her coworkers liked her and that they had conspired to force her out of her job.
Johnson recently ruled the evidence suggested Richardson committed workplace misconduct and was ineligible for unemployment benefits.
“The employer has presented credible testimony that claimant took three $150 cash utility account deposits,” Johnson ruled. “This money should have been deposited into the employer’s account, not taken by claimant for her own personal purposes. Every employer across all industries has the right to expect that employees do not steal. Theft of company assets, whether money or equipment or time, is disqualifying misconduct even without prior warning.”
Court records indicate no criminal charges have been filed in the case, although the county attorney’s office said Thursday the matter is still under investigation.
Richardson had worked for the city since August 2020, according to state records. The Iowa Capital Dispatch was not able to reach Richardson for comment.
Republished under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.
