Former Bank Teller Sentenced to Prison for Embezzling Funds

Acting United States Attorney Robert S. Cessar announced today, November 24, 2009, that Karen Hawkins, a resident of New Stanton, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court in Pittsburgh to 12 months’ and one day incarceration, five years’ supervised release, and restitution of $22,000 on her conviction of one count of embezzlement by bank employee.

United States District Judge Donetta W. Ambrose imposed the sentence on Hawkins, age 47.

According to information presented to the court by Assistant United States Attorney Nelson P. Cohen, who prosecuted the case, the evidence presented at trial established that during the four-month period from June to September 2006, while employed as a teller at the Greengate Branch of Dollar Bank, Karen Hawkins stole $22,000 from her cash drawer and concealed the embezzlement by making unauthorized withdrawals, in $1,000 increments, from the accounts of Dollar Bank customers.

Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Ambrose stated that,“I consider this to be a serious offense...the evidence was compelling; it was proof beyond a reasonable doubt...You betrayed the bank and your customers. I believe this was a financially motivated crime. That’s a reason, but a bad reason.”

Mr. Cessar commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Dollar Bank for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Hawkins.