A woman accused of stealing $5,000 from an area credit union appeared in Hancock County Magistrate Court on Friday.
Marsha Ford, 59, of New Cumberland, was charged earlier this month on one count of embezzlement, a felony, for allegedly taking $5,000 in cash from her employer, First Choice America Community Federal Credit Union in Chester. Ford was an assistant branch manager at the Chester location.
Ford came under suspicion after $5,000 turned up missing from the credit union's vault on May 3, according to a criminal complaint filed by West Virginia State Police Cpl. L.M. Roberts.
Ford and two other managers were questioned about the missing money, and all three denied taking it, the complaint said. The vault is a dual control area in which no one person is supposed to disburse cash without a second person being present, the complaint said.
On the day the money turned up missing, that protocol was not followed, the complaint said. There was no surveillance camera footage of the vault on that day either, the complaint said.
Ford allegedly confessed to the theft in a meeting with state police on Sept. 9, saying she was having financial difficulties at home, the complaint said. She said she was sorry and would pay it back, according to the complaint.
Ford is free on a $5,000 surety bond and had a pre-trial conference before Magistrate Michael Powell on Friday
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Saturday, September 28, 2013
Portland bank official blames Vicodin addiction for stealing money from vault, customer accounts in Oregon
The former operations manager of Portland's Rivergate Federal Credit Union was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison on Monday for systematically embezzling $408,062.38 from the bank.
Jade Carnahan, appearing before U.S. District Judge Marco A. Hernandez, accepted responsibility for her crimes. She blamed her actions on a serious addiction to Vicodin, a painkiller composed of hydrocodone and acetaminophen.
The 35-year-old Scappoose resident faced up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for bank larceny at the North Portland credit union. She pleaded guilty in April to stealing from its bank vault and customer accounts, including the funds of senior citizens.
Her embezzlement began in 2005 and ended in 2012, according to the U.S. attorney's office for Oregon.
Gregory A. Fowler, Oregon's top FBI official, said Carnahan was in a position of trust to guard the very money she stole.
"She broke that trust, using her access as a bank employee to feed a drug habit," Fowler said. "Addiction to prescription pain killers can be just as devastating as street drugs, such as crack and heroin."
Jade Carnahan, appearing before U.S. District Judge Marco A. Hernandez, accepted responsibility for her crimes. She blamed her actions on a serious addiction to Vicodin, a painkiller composed of hydrocodone and acetaminophen.
The 35-year-old Scappoose resident faced up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for bank larceny at the North Portland credit union. She pleaded guilty in April to stealing from its bank vault and customer accounts, including the funds of senior citizens.
Her embezzlement began in 2005 and ended in 2012, according to the U.S. attorney's office for Oregon.
Gregory A. Fowler, Oregon's top FBI official, said Carnahan was in a position of trust to guard the very money she stole.
"She broke that trust, using her access as a bank employee to feed a drug habit," Fowler said. "Addiction to prescription pain killers can be just as devastating as street drugs, such as crack and heroin."
Former Beavercreek Bank Branch Manager Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement in Ohio
Diane Elizabeth Niehaus, 40, of Beavercreek, Ohio, pleaded guilty to one count each of embezzlement, money laundering, and filing a false income tax return with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for her scheme to embezzle thousands of dollars from the accounts of customers of the branch bank she managed in Centerville, Ohio.
Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Kathy A. Enstrom, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office; and Kevin R. Cornelius, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office, announced the guilty pleas entered before U.S. District Judge Timothy S. Black.
According to court documents, Niehaus managed the Union Savings Bank branch in Centerville between 2007 and 2010. Using her position with USB, Niehaus created fraudulent withdrawal slips to withdraw thousands of dollars in funds from multiple customer accounts using cashier’s checks or official checks she wrote to herself between 2008 and 2010. Niehaus illegally earned thousands of dollars through this embezzlement scheme, and she failed to report this fraudulently obtained income on her federal income tax returns.
“As we often see, the victims are not only the taxpayers but also the individuals and entities who suffer the financial harm,” said Kathy A. Enstrom, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office. “This investigation is a direct result of the excellent partnership IRS, FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office has in combating violations of federal law.”
Embezzlement is punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Money laundering carries a potential penalty up to 20 years and filing a false tax return has a sentence ranging up to three years in prison. The court can also impose fines and order her to pay the costs of prosecution associated with the false tax return charge. A sentencing hearing is set for January 9, 2014.
The court will conduct its own investigation prior to sentencing Niehaus, including determining the actual amount of loss to victims.
U.S. Attorney Stewart commended the cooperative investigation by special agents of the FBI and IRS, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Tabacchi, who is prosecuting the case. U.S. Attorney Stewart also acknowledged the cooperation of U.S. Bank in the investigation.
Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Kathy A. Enstrom, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office; and Kevin R. Cornelius, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office, announced the guilty pleas entered before U.S. District Judge Timothy S. Black.
According to court documents, Niehaus managed the Union Savings Bank branch in Centerville between 2007 and 2010. Using her position with USB, Niehaus created fraudulent withdrawal slips to withdraw thousands of dollars in funds from multiple customer accounts using cashier’s checks or official checks she wrote to herself between 2008 and 2010. Niehaus illegally earned thousands of dollars through this embezzlement scheme, and she failed to report this fraudulently obtained income on her federal income tax returns.
“As we often see, the victims are not only the taxpayers but also the individuals and entities who suffer the financial harm,” said Kathy A. Enstrom, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office. “This investigation is a direct result of the excellent partnership IRS, FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office has in combating violations of federal law.”
Embezzlement is punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Money laundering carries a potential penalty up to 20 years and filing a false tax return has a sentence ranging up to three years in prison. The court can also impose fines and order her to pay the costs of prosecution associated with the false tax return charge. A sentencing hearing is set for January 9, 2014.
The court will conduct its own investigation prior to sentencing Niehaus, including determining the actual amount of loss to victims.
U.S. Attorney Stewart commended the cooperative investigation by special agents of the FBI and IRS, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Tabacchi, who is prosecuting the case. U.S. Attorney Stewart also acknowledged the cooperation of U.S. Bank in the investigation.
Former Hartsburg State Bank president headed to federal prison in Illinois
Bryson John Russell, 66, of Lincoln pleaded guilty in February to stealing money from the bank, starting in 1992, three years after he was named president. In documents filed in U.S. District Court in Springfield, prosecutors outlined 19 loans Russell took out starting in 2001 in the names of various bank customers. The loans ranged from $1,000 to $124,000.
“When those loans became due, Russell would create different, larger loans in names of relatives and other bank customers to pay off those due, as well as to embezzle additional money,” according to a sentencing commentary written by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Hansen.
The former bank executive also cashed a $15,000 certificate of deposit belonging to a bank customer and applied the proceeds to a loan he had taken out in another customer’s name, according to Hansen.
After he was removed as president, Russell agreed to answer federal investigators’ questions about shortfalls in accounts with a Texas bank that handled deposits and payments to other financial institutions on behalf of the Hartsburg bank.
Russell admitted to making false entries to cover up for cash he took from the bank’s vault, according to court documents.
The loss involved more than money, the prosecutor said in his sentencing comments.
“It is incredibly troubling when the perpetrator is in charge of all of the daily operations of the bank. Particularly in a small town, such as Hartsburg, the trust of the citizens is critical for the operation of a financial institution.”
Given the condition of Russell’s personal finances, it is unlikely he will be able to make full restitution, the prosecutor noted.
“When those loans became due, Russell would create different, larger loans in names of relatives and other bank customers to pay off those due, as well as to embezzle additional money,” according to a sentencing commentary written by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Hansen.
The former bank executive also cashed a $15,000 certificate of deposit belonging to a bank customer and applied the proceeds to a loan he had taken out in another customer’s name, according to Hansen.
After he was removed as president, Russell agreed to answer federal investigators’ questions about shortfalls in accounts with a Texas bank that handled deposits and payments to other financial institutions on behalf of the Hartsburg bank.
Russell admitted to making false entries to cover up for cash he took from the bank’s vault, according to court documents.
The loss involved more than money, the prosecutor said in his sentencing comments.
“It is incredibly troubling when the perpetrator is in charge of all of the daily operations of the bank. Particularly in a small town, such as Hartsburg, the trust of the citizens is critical for the operation of a financial institution.”
Given the condition of Russell’s personal finances, it is unlikely he will be able to make full restitution, the prosecutor noted.
Friday, September 20, 2013
Former Bank Manager Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement, Money Laundering, False Tax Return in Ohio
A former bank brand manager has pleaded guilty to embezzlement, money laundering and filing a false income tax return.
Diane Elizabeth Niehaus, 40, of Beavercreek embezzled thousand of dollars from customer accounts at the Union Savings Bank in Centerville.
Niehaus managed the bank from 2007 to 2010. According to the report, she created fraudulent withdrawal slips from multiple customer accounts using cashier's checks or official checks she wrote to herself between 2008 and 2010. It's believed she made thousands of dollars through the scheme and failed to report the income on her federal income tax returns.
The court will conduct its own investigation prior to sentencing.
A sentencing hearing is set for January 9, 2014.
Diane Elizabeth Niehaus, 40, of Beavercreek embezzled thousand of dollars from customer accounts at the Union Savings Bank in Centerville.
Niehaus managed the bank from 2007 to 2010. According to the report, she created fraudulent withdrawal slips from multiple customer accounts using cashier's checks or official checks she wrote to herself between 2008 and 2010. It's believed she made thousands of dollars through the scheme and failed to report the income on her federal income tax returns.
The court will conduct its own investigation prior to sentencing.
A sentencing hearing is set for January 9, 2014.
Monday, September 16, 2013
Former Wiggins bank teller admits embezzling more than $200K in Mississippi
The former lead teller of the Bank of Wiggins has admitted embezzling more than $200,000.
Veronica Morse, 38, pleaded guilty Monday before Judge Larry Bourgeois in Stone County Circuit Court.
Bourgeois ordered Morse returned to jail pending sentencing on Thursday.
Bank employees began noticing suspicious activity in late 2012. They found Morse had created tickets for fictitious cash transactions and entered the transactions in the bank's computer system so the books appeared to be balanced, Smith said.
A bank audit showed Morse took thousands of dollars in several transactions over 1- 1/2 years.
Morse was arrested in December.
Smith said several bank employees attended her plea hearing and told the court the effect her actions had on them personally and professionally. Some of them wept as they talked about how Morse had betrayed their trust.
Friday, September 13, 2013
SW MISSOURI BANK MANAGER PLEADS GUILTY TO THEFT
A former southwest Missouri bank branch manager pleaded guilty to bank fraud in the theft of more than $316,000 from elderly customers' accounts.
Thirty-three-year-old Jennifer Gunter, of Republic, also pleaded guilty Thursday to not reporting the embezzled income on her taxes.
Gunter was the branch manager at the Guaranty Bank in Nixa until she was fired in November 2012.
The U.S. Attorney's office says Gunter admitted that she repeatedly took money from bank accounts of four elderly bank customers and used the money for personal expenses.
Prosecutors say Gunter set the accounts to "do not mail" to prevent the customers from receiving their bank statements and discovering the thefts.
Gunter faces a sentence of up to 33 years without parole, a fine up to $1.1 million and paying restitution.
Gunter waived her right to a grand jury indictment and pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to bank fraud and filing a false income tax return. The Internal Revenue Service estimates it’s owed about $50,000 because she under-reported her income from the thefts by $258,000 total, over several tax years.
The plea agreement says Gunter "submitted transaction tickets, withdrawal slips, and cashier’s
checks that withdrew monies from the bank accounts of L.O., G.F., F.F.T., and F.N., which purported to have the signature of the account holder or an authorized signatory who approved the transaction and withdrawal of monies." It also says she changed the status of the customers' accounts so they wouldn't get mailed statements, keeping them from discovering the thefts.
The plea agreement doesn't specify what a judge will order Gunter’s sentence to be. She could get up to 30 years in prison plus a fine up to $1 million for bank fraud, and up to a three-year sentence plus a fine up to $100,000 fine for filing a false return. Gunter probably will get less than that, however, because she pleaded guilty and didn't force prosecutors to seek an indictment or go to trial. She could also be ordered to make restitution to the customers, the IRS or both.
The charges filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office say the thefts happened in Greene and Christian counties, where Gunter worked for Guaranty Bank. Gunter is not in jail as she awaits her sentencing hearing, which is not scheduled.
Thirty-three-year-old Jennifer Gunter, of Republic, also pleaded guilty Thursday to not reporting the embezzled income on her taxes.
Gunter was the branch manager at the Guaranty Bank in Nixa until she was fired in November 2012.
The U.S. Attorney's office says Gunter admitted that she repeatedly took money from bank accounts of four elderly bank customers and used the money for personal expenses.
Prosecutors say Gunter set the accounts to "do not mail" to prevent the customers from receiving their bank statements and discovering the thefts.
Gunter faces a sentence of up to 33 years without parole, a fine up to $1.1 million and paying restitution.
Gunter waived her right to a grand jury indictment and pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to bank fraud and filing a false income tax return. The Internal Revenue Service estimates it’s owed about $50,000 because she under-reported her income from the thefts by $258,000 total, over several tax years.
The plea agreement says Gunter "submitted transaction tickets, withdrawal slips, and cashier’s
checks that withdrew monies from the bank accounts of L.O., G.F., F.F.T., and F.N., which purported to have the signature of the account holder or an authorized signatory who approved the transaction and withdrawal of monies." It also says she changed the status of the customers' accounts so they wouldn't get mailed statements, keeping them from discovering the thefts.
The plea agreement doesn't specify what a judge will order Gunter’s sentence to be. She could get up to 30 years in prison plus a fine up to $1 million for bank fraud, and up to a three-year sentence plus a fine up to $100,000 fine for filing a false return. Gunter probably will get less than that, however, because she pleaded guilty and didn't force prosecutors to seek an indictment or go to trial. She could also be ordered to make restitution to the customers, the IRS or both.
The charges filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office say the thefts happened in Greene and Christian counties, where Gunter worked for Guaranty Bank. Gunter is not in jail as she awaits her sentencing hearing, which is not scheduled.
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