Las Cruces Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Embezzlement Charge
Defendant Admits Embezzling $204,349 from Bank of the West

ALBUQUERQUE—Yesterday in federal court in Las Cruces, New Mexico, Kristy Sanchez, 38, of Las Cruces, pled guilty to a criminal information charging her with embezzlement by a bank employee under a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales said that Sanchez pled guilty to embezzling $204,349 of funds belonging to the Bank of the West between 1999 and 2009. During that period, Sanchez was employed as a customer service manager at the Bank’s branch on S. Telshor Blvd. in Las Cruces. In her plea agreement, Sanchez admitted that she manipulated bank records to conceal her fraudulent conduct.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, Sanchez will be sentenced to 12 months of imprisonment, which may include six-months of home confinement. Sanchez also will be required to pay $204,349 in restitution. She also will be prohibited from participating in the affairs of any insured financial institution.

Sanchez was released on her own recognizance pending her sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.

This case was investigated by the Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron O. Jordan of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office.