The former chief executive of two Minnesota real estate organizations was sentenced for stealing more than $144,000 from the groups.
According to combined media reports, 70-year-old Katherine Junge ran the Lakes Region Association of Realtors and the Lakes Region Multiple Listing Service for 25 years before retiring in March 2022. After she stepped down from her leadership position, the organizations contacted police investigators regarding the potential misappropriation of funds. It was determined that Junge siphoned over $57,000 between 2017 and 2022 from the bank account associated to the Lake Region Association of Realtors and more than $86,000 was misappropriated from the bank account belonging to the Lake Region Multiple Listing Service during the same time. Investigators discovered Junge used the funds on personal purchases and paying off her credit card bills.
Junge was charged with four counts of theft in May 2023. Last month, she pleaded guilty to one felony theft count while the other counts were dismissed. She was sentenced to five years of probation and was ordered to pay back $94,000.
Photo courtesy Otter Tail County Jail
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