Bingham County man charged in $1.6 million theft

The Bingham County Sheriff’s Office and Blackfoot city detectives arrested Russell C. Leonardson on Friday on two counts of grand theft and over 50 counts of forgery.

Leonardson called authorities Thursday night to let them know he would turn himself in at around 7 a.m. Friday.

According to police, Leonardson has taken about $1.6 million from Idaho Select over the past several years. Leonardson is an employee of the company.

Aberdeen police started an investigation several months ago and recently asked Bingham County detectives to help. Detectives said they had information about apparent thefts going back seven years, but could only initiate charges for the past five years due to a statute of limitations.

Leonardson is scheduled to be arraigned on the charges Monday. He was being held in the Bingham County Jail on $100,000 bond.

The sheriff’s detective division is in the process of serving two search warrants in connection with the case. One is in Idaho Falls and another in Island Park. The Fremont County and Bonneville County sheriff’s offices are helping in that part of the investigation.