Former Warsaw Street Superintendent Files For Sentence Modification
By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews
Lacy Francis Jr.
WARSAW — Lacy Francis Jr., Warsaw’s former street superintendent who stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from the city, has filed for a sentence modification.
In a report from the Indiana State Board of Accounts, from Jan. 1, 2011, to Dec. 31, 2013, the city of Warsaw overpaid Pro Form Pipe Lining of Mishawaka $318,569 to have various storm sewers lined, cleaned and repaired. Ten of the accounts payable vouchers for payments to Pro Form were signed by Francis, certifying the attached invoices were true and correct and the itemized materials or services were ordered and received.
In December 2013, a former Pro Form employee contacted Warsaw’s clerk-treasurer and alleged Pro Form had been intentionally over-billing the city. Francis’s wife and two Pro Form employees were also charged in this criminal case.
Francis, 68, served as the street superintendent for 22 years.
In July 2017, Francis was convicted of four felonies and received a 13-year prison sentence, with the final 11 years of the sentence suspended. The first four years of the suspended time were served in the Kosciusko County work release program. Francis was also ordered to pay $25,000 in restitution to Selective Insurance Company of America, which has been paid in full. Francis is also expected to pay full restitution to the City of Warsaw.
A petition filed Jan. 31, states Francis has completed his executed sentence and has been serving his term of probation since Sept. 22, 2020. He is currently set to be discharged from probation in September 2027.
Due to health issues, Francis is seeking to relocate to warmer temperatures. “To accomplish this goal, (Francis) requests an order eliminating formal probation as a condition of the suspended portion of his sentence,” reads the petition.
The petition also states Francis’s probation officer has no objection to the request.
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