Orange City, Iowa — A Sioux Center woman has been sentenced for felony theft after her arrest in November of 2022.
The Sioux County Attorney’s office says 29-year-old Blanca Cecilia Castro Ramos of Sioux Center has been sentenced for the crimes of Theft In The First Degree, a Class C Felony; Fraudulent Practice in the Second Degree, a Class D Felony; and Fraudulent Practice in the Third Degree, an Aggravated Misdemeanor.
The County Attorney’s office says that in November of 2022 a Sioux Center business contacted the Sioux Center Police Department about a former employee overbilling, altering bills, and keeping the extra money for herself. Castro Ramos previously served as the bookkeeper and had access to the business financing and billing. Further investigation by the business and police revealed that Castro Ramos stole significant amounts of money between February and November of 2022, resulting in ten felony charges including Ongoing Criminal Conduct, Theft, and Fraudulent Practice.
Castro Ramos pleaded guilty and was sentenced pursuant to a plea agreement with the State. The District Court further sentenced Castro Ramos to a 15-year prison sentence which was suspended while she completes four years of probation with the Department of Corrections. Castro Ramos was ordered to pay over $4,000 in criminal fines, victim restitution of nearly $55,000, as well as a $300 probation supervision fee. Castro Ramos was also sentenced to serve 30 days in the Sioux County Jail.
