Ex-teller admits stealing $2M from Illinois bank

 A central Illinois woman has pleaded guilty to embezzling nearly $2 million from the bank where she worked as head teller.

Sixty-two-year-old Nancy J. Huskins of Lincoln pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of bank embezzlement in federal court in Springfield.

Huskins worked at the State Bank of Lincoln from 1996 until November of last year.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in central Illinois says she admitted stealing the money over that period and using it for her personal spending.

As head teller, Huskins had access to the bank's vault.

According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, she concealed the theft by manipulating audits.

Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 10.

Huskins faces up to 30 years in prison and could be ordered to pay full restitution.

A Lincoln woman pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to embezzling nearly $2 million from the bank where she was employed.

Nancy J. Huskins, 62, pleaded guilty to a single count of bank embezzlement before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas Schanzle-Haskins in Springfield.

Huskins, the former head teller at State Bank of Lincoln, admitted that from Jan. 1, 1996, to Nov. 4, 2013, she embezzled approximately $1,982,685 for her personal use.

In her position as head teller, she had access to the bank's vaults and was entrusted with significant access to portions of the vault where large amounts of cash were held.

Huskins admitted during her court appearance and in court documents that she disguised the embezzlement by personally participating in audits of cash amounts, representing that a certain bag contained an amount of currency when she knew the bag contained no currency, just other empty currency bags.

The investigation was conducted by agents of the FBI with full cooperation from State Bank of Lincoln. The case is being prosecuted by assistant U.S. attorney John Childress.

Huskins' attorney, Daniel Noll of Springfield, said he couldn't discuss any reasons for his client’s embezzlement.

"She has been cooperating with authorities and looks to put this matter behind her," Noll said.

Huskins currently is on bond awaiting sentencing. She faces a maximum penalty of up to 30 years in prison when she is sentenced Nov. 10 by U.S. District Judge Sue Myerscough. She’ll also be ordered to pay restitution.

"This was a very unfortunate situation for everyone, including the family of our former employee," said Steve Aughenbaugh, president and CEO of State Bank of Lincoln. "Despite the wrongdoing, there has been no misuse of customer accounts, so customers can rest assured their deposits are safe and accounted for."

Aughenbaugh said all employees of the bank are bonded "in an amount considerably in excess of this embezzlement."