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ST. LOUIS -- Guilty! That was the plea entered Monday morning in a federal courtroom by former Schuyler County Collector Kathy Roberts. 

Roberts entered the plea to one count of mail fraud. According to court documents, Roberts received cash payments for county taxes and used the money for personal purposes instead of depositing the money into the county’s bank account. Additionally on some occasions, Roberts issued Schuyler County checks to herself and deposited them into her own bank account without the authority of the county. A total of over a half million dollars was taken in the crime. 

Mail fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and/or fines of up to $250,000. She is scheduled to be sentenced on March 22, 2012. 

Roberts is still facing state charges. A new judge has been assigned in that case. Her state case will now be heard by Linn County Circuit Judge Gary Ravens.