Delta • A 49-year-old secretary and treasurer of four Delta-area water boards was arrested Wednesday and charged with illegally transferring water shares into her own accounts from unsuspecting owners.
Amie Sue Johnson faces 15 second-degree felony charges, five for theft involving more than $5,000, five counts of communications fraud involving $5,000 or more, and five counts of unlawful dealing by a fiduciary involving $5,000 or more.
A probable cause statement filed by Millard County sheriff’s investigators after Johnson’s arrest alleges the woman transferred as much as $226,729 worth of water shares into her own accounts since 2022, allegedly renting them to unsuspecting third-party water users and pocketing the proceeds.
Investigators continue to pour through records going back to 2015 and additional charges are possible, court records indicate.
“Board members provided yearly transfer totals reflecting a substantial and increasing volume of water being transferred into accounts controlled by Johnson over multiple years,” the probable cause statement filed in the case reports.
The water boards Johnson served as a fiduciary for were Delta, Melville, Deseret and Abraham. Together they form a regional water board.
Johnson’s duties included tracking water share transfers and usage across all four boards.
The suspect was confronted by water board members about the suspicious transfers before investigators were called on June 2. According to court records, she didn’t deny the accusations.
Investigators were made aware of the confrontation and even provided a recording of the meeting in question.
“When asked whether there was a good explanation for the transfers, Johnson stated, ‘No, there’s not,’” according to the probable cause statement filed with Fourth District Court.
The statement further reveals that Johnson was asked directly whether the “conduct was what it appeared to be, namely theft or fraud.” Johnson allegedly indicated it was.
“When asked whether the account holders whose water had been transferred were aware of the transfers, Johnson stated they were not,” the probable cause statement reads. “Johnson further stated, ‘I think you know why I did it. I was trying to keep the bills paid.’”
The suspect was brought to Delta’s MCSO substation before her arrest. During questioning she exercised her right to an attorney, according to investigators.
Johnson was originally booked on three second-degree felony charges and allowed to post $10,000 bail. She posted an unsecured bond for $10,000 on June 18, according to court records.
Cleve Burns, an attorney who serves as a public defender for Millard County, filed notice with the court that he is representing Johnson in her criminal case. When reached Friday, he said, “I have no comment.” Johnson sought a public defender during an initial appearance in court on Wednesday. She, too, was phoned for comment, but was unavailable on Friday.
Multiple sources have told the Chronicle Progress that the bulk of water shares involved in Johnson’s alleged crimes are owned by Deseret water users.
These sources also indicated that emotions ran hot as board members recognized Johnson was allegedly pilfering precious resources just as water users cope with severe drought conditions affecting their livelihoods.
Johnson is expected back in district court on July 1. Meanwhile, the investigation into the alleged thefts continues.
This article is published through the Utah News Collaborative, a partnership of news organizations in Utah that aim to inform readers across the state.