Second Former Bank Employee Pleads Guilty to Role in Embezzlement, Staged Robbery

WICHITA, KS—A second former bank employee has pleaded guilty to embezzling from a bank in Grant County, Kansas, and helping stage a robbery to cover up the theft, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.

Ashley Cravens, 29, Ulysses, Kansas, pleaded guilty to one count of theft from a bank. In her plea, she admitted that she and other former bank employees embezzled from the bank and staged a robbery. From 2008 to July 24, 2010, while Cravens worked at Western State Bank in Ulysses, she and two co-defendants embezzled approximately $84,200. On July 24, 2010, Cravens aided and abetted a staged bank robbery. Subsequent to the staged bank robbery, Cravens and co-defendants embezzled another $24,450 from the bank.

Cravens is set for sentencing February 7. She faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.

Co-defendants are Amber Gutierrez, who is set for sentencing February 4; Hattie Wiginton, who is set for jury trial December 17; anad Linda Wise, who is set for jury trial December 17.

Grissom commended the FBI, the KBI, the Grant County Sheriff's Office, the Ulysses Police Department, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Smith for their work on the case.

In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.