91-year-old mayor quits after she admits to stealing $200,000 from small town



A 91-year-old woman has admitted stealing over $200,000 from the town in south Alabama where she has been mayor for more than 30 years.



Mary Hixon, mayor of River Falls, pleaded guilty to theft on Thursday and resigned from the position she has held for three decades.



The elderly fraudster was caught out when a citizen confronted her while wearning a wire - and she gave him $525 in an attempt to keep him quiet.



Resigned: Mary Hixon, 91, pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $200,000

Police began investigating after The Andalusia Star-News reported in August about the city selling property to a man who was living with Hixon.



The probe revealed Hixon had illegally transferred $201,610 in city money to others in the last three years.



She resigned as mayor and was sentenced to five years in prison, all suspended because of her age.

A judge also ordered Hixon to repay the money. Her estate is responsible if she dies before all the money is refunded.



Following the initial investigation into Hixon's financial affairs, an ordinary citizen went to talk to her and covertly filmed the meeting.



The mayor admitting abusing her position, briefed him on what to tell the police if necessary, and gave his $525 in exchange for his silence.



Among the thousands of dollars in town funds spent illegally were numerous payments to Richard Moss, who was living with Hixon at the time.



He was paid $80,000 over nearly three years to act as a town nightwatchman, but never did any of the work he was being paid for.



Moss also claimed $1,700 compensation after claiming his car had been hit by the municipal garbage truck - even though the police have no record of such an incident.

