TOPEKA, KS—A former teller with a credit union in Lawrence pleaded guilty Tuesday to embezzling more than $81,000, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.

Christi Marie Hout, 38, Lawrence, Kansas, pleaded guilty to one count of theft of credit union funds. In her plea, she admitted the crime occurred while she was a teller with Jayhawk Federal Credit Union at 2901 Lakeview Road in Lawrence, Kan. She wrote checks on her personal account and her husband’s business account and made ATM debits when there were insufficient funds in the accounts to cover the transactions. She used credit union funds to pay personal expenses, and she knew that the credit union manager was covering up the thefts.

Sentencing will be set at a later time. She faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.

Co-defendant Karolyn J. Stattelman, 42, Topeka Kansas, former manager of the credit union, is charged with one count of theft of credit union funds. She is set for a change of plea hearing June 17.

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