Odessa, Texas woman admitted stealing $31K from local bank

An Odessa woman is scheduled to be sentenced Thursday in federal court for stealing about $31,000 from a local bank.
Susan Louise Bryan, 48, a former loan processor at First Basin Credit Union, pleaded guilty in August to one count of embezzlement by a bank employee.
According to court documents, Bryan opened a line of credit in April 2008 in the amount of $6,500 in her sister’s name.
“In order to get the line of credit approved, she accessed another employee’s account without her knowledge or permission,” states a factual basis accompanying Bryan’s guilty plea. “Over the next two years, (she) increased the line of credit and gave herself loan add-ons.”
Bryan approved the increases and add-ons by repeatedly accessing her co-worker’s account and then transferred the money to herself, family members and friends, court documents show. She was “immediately fired” after the bank manager discovered the theft, which reportedly occurred between April 2008 and March 2010.
Special Agent Shawn Mundy of the U.S. Secret Service phoned Bryan’s sister in Tyler, who according to court documents denied any knowledge of the “false account” created in her name. Bryan later told Mundy in an interview that she created the account and embezzled the funds “so that she could get some extra money,” the factual basis states. A grand jury indicted Bryan in late May.
Bank officials declined to comment on the case. Bryan, who is free on $10,000 bond, has an unlisted number and could not be reached for comment. Her attorney did not respond to an e-mail seeking comment.
Bryan is scheduled to be sentenced at 3 p.m. Thursday before U.S. District Judge Royal Furgeson. The charge of embezzlement by a bank employee carries a possible penalty of up to 30 years in federal prison and a $1 million fine.