WICHITA, KS—A former director of the Montgomery County Conservation District appeared in federal court here Monday on bank fraud and wire fraud charges, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.

Danielle R. Passauer, 29, Neodesha, Kan., was charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of bank fraud. It is alleged that she authorized $27,678 in checks to be paid to her in excess of the amount of her salary. Furthermore, it is alleged she authorized $23,694 in electronic transfer to VISA to pay for her personal, unauthorized expenditures.

If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison and a fine up to $1 million on each count.

The FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mona Furst is prosecuting.