Former Bank Branch Manager Pleads Guilty

COEUR D’ALENE—Mary Ann Head, 58, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, pleaded guilty yesterday in United States District Court to making false entries in the books and records of a federally insured financial institution, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1005, announced U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson.

According to the plea agreement, Head was employed by Bank of America at its Hayden Lake branch in Hayden, Idaho, from 1993 to 2009. In 1997, Head became the assistant branch manager. In her capacity as assistant branch manager, Head was the sole employee responsible for control of the automatic teller machine, which included balancing the machine on a regular basis. Beginning sometime in 1997, Head began taking money out of the automatic teller machine and used it for a variety of purposes. Head admitted that she made false entries in the books, reports, and statements of Bank of America in order to disguise her criminal activity, and that she continued to do so until it was discovered by the bank in December 2009. According to the plea agreement, Head will pay $400,000 restitution.

The charge carries a maximum punishment of up to 30 years in prison, a fine up to $1 million, and up to five years of supervised release.

Sentencing is set for February 27, 2012, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Coeur d’Alene.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.