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Do Not Pass Go: From the Slots to Jail

``Searching in her brown leather shoulder bag for another twenty to buy more coin, she saw the bank bag with the town's money inside.

``Bell was Ledyard's tax collector, and she purposely carried the oversized pocketbook to hide deposits she was taking to the bank. But the day before, on her way home, Bell neglected to make the stop.

``…This past Tuesday, Bell was sentenced to six years in prison, suspended after 120 days served, and five years probation. She was ordered to pay back $334,000, the money she'd stolen, plus the cost of the town's audit to detect her deception.

``With tears in her eyes, Bell was escorted from the courtroom by a female sheriff, and taken to the Niantic prison.

``Eight months ago, after an exhaustive police investigation, she was charged with stealing $302,587.96 from Ledyard taxpayers. The charges were first-degree larceny and tampering with evidence. She'd worked in the tax office for 21 years, the last 14 as tax collector.

``All told, including her own money, the town's and her substantial winnings, Bell, who was earning $36,400 a year, estimates she lost more than $2 million at the two Indian-run casinos.

``…"`I committed a crime,' she says. `I didn't know at the time there was a name for it, I just knew I had a problem. At therapy, I learned it's a disease. I learned I'm a compulsive gambler.'"

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