HELENA — According to court documents, a former contractor with Montana political campaigns will admit to embezzling more than $250,000 from her clients.

A plea agreement filed in federal district court Thursday says Abbey Lee Cook will plead guilty to three counts of wire fraud. It says she will agree to pay $253,000 in restitution, and that prosecutors will not move to detain her — though the final decision will be made by a judge.

According to information filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Cook provided services for political candidates and committees, including filing campaign finance reports with the Montana Commissioner of Political Practices. Prosecutors said she used her access to their bank accounts to transfer money to accounts and entities she controlled.

“That is the defen

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