Former Aurora city administrator indicted for theft

Toni Wheeler, the former city administrator for Aurora, was indicted Thursday by a Wise County grand jury for theft by public servant.

According to district court records, Wheeler was indicted for the first degree felony offense of theft of property more than $300,000 by a public servant.

The indictment states that Wheeler, “pursuant to one scheme or continuing course of conduct that began on or about Jan. 9, 2017, and continued until on or about Sept. 22, 2021, unlawfully appropriate … $300,000 or more from the City of Aurora, Texas or Mayor Terry Solomon of Aurora” while Wheeler was acting as a public servant in her role as city administrator for Aurora.

Investigators began looking into possible criminal activity following a fire that destroyed Aurora city hall on June 1, 2021, and found evidence that Wheeler stole more than $650,000 from the city, according to the probable cause affidavit with Wheeler’s arrest warrant. She was arrested Dec. 16, 2021.

The alleged fraudulent purchases included airline tickets, Amazon purchases, Apple products, groceries, vehicles and paying off her personal credit card. Investigators also found evidence that the fraudulent purchases were possibly covered up in part with a fake auditor and website created by Wheeler, according to the affidavit.

Court records show Wheeler is represented by Decatur attorney Barry Green.