Thursday, March 18, 2010

Former Ohio Bank Manager Charged With Embezzling $1.5 Million

Joanne S. Kuchna, 65, of Seven Hills, Ohio, was charged yesterday with bank fraud in connection with an embezzlement scheme that defrauded Charter One Bank out of nearly $1.5 million over a 14 year period. Prosecutors allege that Kuchna stole money from customer certificate of deposit accounts at the Broadview Heights branch of Charter One and concealed the thefts by shifting money from one account to another. The scheme reportedly began 1995 and continued until November 2009, involving at least 17 customer accounts and netting Kuchna $1,489,850.88 in ill-gotten gains. She also forged withdrawal slips and used unsuspecting co-workers to conduct some of her fraudulent transactions, in an effort to conceal the thefts, according to authorities. Kuchna had been a 29-year employee of the bank, most recently as an assistant manager.

Read the story here and here.

Read the DOJ announcement here.

Hat Tip: Reader Joe

Update (5/26/10): Kuchna pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud.

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