Embezzler/City Official Pleads Guilty

SAN DIEGO (CN) - A former El Cajon councilwoman pleaded guilty to embezzling $3.5 million from her employer, federal prosecutors said.

Jillian Hanson-Cox pleaded guilty on Friday to mail fraud and filing a false tax return, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a statement. She pleaded guilty to embezzling $3.5 million from her employer, San Diego-based Century Design, and failing to report it on her income taxes, prosecutors said.

Hanson-Cox, 53, was Century Design's controller from 2004-08, during which time she sneaked the money away. She was a City Council member at El Cajon, a part-time job, from 2004 until she resigned this year.

She is free on bond until her Dec. 3 sentencing, at which she faces up to 20 years in prison for mail fraud and 3 years for the tax charge.

El Cajon is east of San Diego.

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