Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Montana Woman Pleads Guilty To $676K Bank Embezzlement

Kathleen "Kathy" Sammons, 52, of Charlo, Montana, pleaded guilty yesterday to charges she embezzled some $676,000 from the Whitefish Credit Union where she had been employed initially as a teller and ultimately branch manager, in their Polson branch. According to authorities, Sammons began stealing cash from her drawer in or about 1998 and continued to do so until June 2010 after a surprise cash audit revealed the missing money. She reportedly confessed to authorities after being confronted. According to reports, Sammons said she used the stolen money to make loan payments for credit union customers, make donations to local charities, pay for high school sports banquets and trips, buy a house in Dillon and cover thefts of cash by other credit union employees and also enhanced her personal income. Sammons employed an elaborate scheme to cover up the thefts, making paper transfers of funds when necessary and doctoring books and records. Sammons went missing immediately after the discrepancy was discovered but was found and arrested two days later.

Read the story here, here and here.

Update (7/7/11): Sammons was sentenced to one month in prison and ordered to pay restitution.  She will also have 5 years probation with 17 months home confinement.

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