A former employee of the Starke County Jail has been sentenced after admitting to stealing more than $21,000 from jail commissary funds.

Pamela McDonald, 41, of Knox, was sentenced Wednesday in federal court to 12 months of probation after pleading guilty to wire fraud. She was also ordered to pay $21,280.42 in restitution.

According to court records, McDonald worked as a jail matron and was responsible for paying invoices from the jail’s commissary account. Prosecutors said she transferred commissary funds into her personal PayPal account while disguising the transactions as legitimate business payments.

Investigators determined that between August 2022 and May 2023, McDonald made at least 19 unauthorized withdrawals totaling more than $20,600. Authorities also said she used a Starke County debit card to purchase household items, including a gaming chair, mattress, and bed frame.

Federal officials said the thefts resulted in a total loss of $21,280.42 to Starke County.

The case was investigated by the FBI, Indiana State Police, and the Indiana State Board of Accounts.