June 17, 2014

Former Manager Pleads Guilty to Embezzling from Lawrence Credit Union

TOPEKA, KS—A former manager of a credit union in Lawrence pleaded guilty Tuesday to embezzling more than $93,500, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said. She also admitted allowing a teller to steal more than $81,000 from the credit union.

Karolyn J. Stattelman, 42, Topeka, pleaded guilty to one count of theft from a credit union. In her plea, she admitted the crime took place while she was manager of the Jayhawk Federal Credit Union at 2901 Lakeview Road in Lawrence, Kandsd. She manipulated credit union accounts for money orders, share drafts, ATMs, and returned checks in order to conceal the thefts.

She also allowed co-defendant Christi Marie Hout, who was a teller, to write checks on Hout’s personal and business accounts when she did not have sufficient funds to cover them. Hout has pleaded guilty to one count of theft of credit union funds.

Stattelman and Hout will be set for sentencing at a later time. They each face a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison and a fine up to $1 million.

Grissom commended the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Kenney for their work on the case.