The United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that charges have been filed in U.S. District Court in Williamsport against Mary Ann Gillespie of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania.

According to United States Attorney, Peter Smith, Gillespie, age 59, is charged in a one-count felony information with bank larceny during the period of November 2008 to September 2013. The offense is alleged to have occurred as a check kiting scheme carried out by the defendant involving accounts at the First Columbia Bank and Trust Company and Fulton National Bank in Bloomsburg.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Williamsport Resident Agency. Assistant United States Attorney Wayne P. Samuelson is assigned to prosecute the case.

The government also filed a plea agreement in the case which is subject to the approval of the assigned judge.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilty is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statues and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

In this case, the maximum penalty under the federal statute is ten years’ imprisonment, and a fine of $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant’s educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.