Former Andy Williams theater controller sentenced for tax fraud

The former controller of Andy Williams' Moon River Theatre in Branson was sentenced last week for filing a false tax return related to an embezzlement scheme.

Controller 1992-2009, Dawn Cleveringa was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to pay restitution of $104,438, according to federal court filings.

In an August guilty plea, Cleveringa admitted she failed to report approximately $262,656 in income for tax years 2007 and 2008.

Cleveringa admitted she manipulated the theater’s accounting systems to make unauthorized payments to herself. As controller, Cleveringa was tasked with conducting or supervising financial transactions at the theater, including employee payroll and issuing IRS tax forms to workers. In 2007 and 2008, she illegally withdrew funding from the theater for herself and paid off personal expenses, according to case notes.

The false federal tax return charge comes after Cleveringa admitted she stole some $678,000 from the Branson theater and agreed to pay restitution.

Williams died in September 2012 at the age of 84 following a battle with bladder cancer.