A former Merrillville Town clerk has pleaded guilty, admitting to stealing bond money and filing a false tax return in 2009. The Times online today is reporting that Virlissa Crenshaw signed a plea agreement that would require her to pay over 150-thousand dollars to the town of Merrillville and around 55-thousand to the IRS. Published reports say in exchange for the plea deal, the US government agrees to not pursue criminal tax charges against Crenshaw's spouse for the tax years of 2007 to 2010. When the judge asked why she decided to plead guilty, Crenshaw responded, "Because I am Guilty," according to the article.

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