Greg Buum Among Five Officials Charged in Small Town Scandal
On Tuesday, former Armstrong Mayor Greg Buum was sentenced to probation for his role in an embezzlement case involving multiple town officials. Buum, 73, served several terms as mayor of the small Iowa town, which has a population of 845. He pleaded guilty last month to several charges, including tampering with records and misconduct in office, according to The Des Moines Register.
Embezzlement Scheme Involves Police Chief and City Clerks
Buum’s charges stem from a broader scheme that also implicated his son-in-law, Craig Merrill, who served as the town’s police chief, as well as three former city clerks. The group was accused of embezzling thousands of dollars from the town and falsifying or destroying public records to cover their tracks. All five defendants in the case have since pleaded guilty.
Judge Opts for Probation Over Prison Time
At the sentencing hearing, Judge Jeffrey Neary ruled out a prison term for Buum, stating that incarceration “is just not in the cards” given the circumstances. Instead, Buum received a suspended three-year prison sentence, two years of probation, and fines totaling over $1,800. The judge’s decision came after Buum apologized in court, expressing a desire to move on and spend more time with his family.
“It’s time to move on,” Buum said. “I have a very helpful and supportive wife, kids, and lots of grandkids. It is the time in my life for me to enjoy that.”
Police Chief Receives Deferred Judgment
In an earlier ruling in September, Buum’s son-in-law, former Police Chief Craig Merrill, was sentenced for misconduct, including using his Taser on another man as a party prank. Merrill received a deferred judgment, meaning his charges will be dismissed if he successfully completes probation.
Other Defendants to be Sentenced Soon
The remaining city clerks involved in the scandal have also faced consequences. One clerk received a deferred judgment, while the others pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate in the case against the other defendants. Their sentencing hearings have been delayed until the conclusion of the other cases.
This small-town embezzlement scandal has left the community of Armstrong grappling with the aftermath of corruption and misconduct by its top officials.
