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Press Release

Murphysboro, Il Woman Indicted On Bank Embezzlement Charges

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Illinois

Buffy A. Bastien, 41, of Murphysboro, IL, was indicted on April 8, 2014, on bank embezzlement charges in an Indictment returned by a Federal Grand Jury sitting in Benton, Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today.

Bastien was charged in a one count indictment which charges that from about 2010, to on or about February 23, 2014, in Jackson County, Bastien, being an officer and employee of The Bank of Carbondale, a bank whose deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, with intent to injure and defraud The Bank of Carbondale, did willfully embezzle the sum of approximately $229,221.80 of the moneys or funds intrusted to the custody or care of The Bank of Carbondale.

Bastien faces a possible penalty of up to 30 years imprisonment, up to $1,000,000 fine, and supervised release of up to 5 years.

An Indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney George Norwood.

Updated February 19, 2015