A Bloomington woman is facing more than two years in prison after stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from the American Legion chapter where she worked.

Joy Aliya Delong, 60, pleaded guilty April 10 to seven counts of theft by swindle. As a part-time bookkeeper for the Richfield American Legion's charitable gambling accounts, Delong stole nearly $200,000 over a five-year period, according to a statement Friday from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS).

She took money by overpaying herself tens of thousands of dollars. In 2012, she paid herself more than $50,000 for about $9,000 of work, according to the statement. She used the money for personal expenses including credit card payments, cellphone bills and a life insurance policy.

The Minnesota Gambling Control Board referred the case to the DPS in September 2013 after noticing some red flags during a compliance review. No other employees had noticed the theft, said Carla Cincotta, senior special agent of criminal investigation at the department's Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division.

"[Delong] made every effort to conceal her steps and was quite successful," Cincotta said.

Charitable organizations are required to have internal controls to prevent thefts such as this one, Cincotta said. The American Legion didn't have those controls, and, as a result had its license revoked for a year, according to a 2014 report from the Gambling Review Board's Compliance Review Group.

"It is so important for all charitable organizations and people doing fundraising to follow the law," Cincotta said, "because unfortunately there are people who will take advantage of a situation and will optimize on any weaknesses."

Sentencing is June 25. Delong faces up to 27 months in prison.

Emma Nelson • 952-746-3287