United States Attorney Eric Melgren

District of Kansas

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News releases are available at www.usdoj.gov/usao/ks/press.html

Contact: Jim Cross
PHONE: 316-269-6481
FAX:      316-269-6420

November 26, 2007

BAXTER SPRINGS WOMAN SENTENCED TO 41 MONTHS FOR EMBEZZLING $500,000 FROM BANK

WICHITA, KAN. - Shelly R. Abernathy, 42, Baxter Springs, was sentenced Monday to 41 months in federal prison for embezzling more than $500,000 from the bank where she worked.

"Ms. Abernathy agreed to pay restitution of $500,875.09," said U.S. Attorney Eric Melgren.

In July, Abernathy pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement and one count of money laundering. In her plea, Abernathy admitted she committed the crimes between 1999 and Dec. 6, 2006 while she was an employee of American Bank of Baxter Springs, Kan. She embezzled $500,875.09 from the bank and deposited the money in two of her husband's accounts at American Bank. She gained access to the money by signing her husband's signature to checks drawn on the accounts and obtaining a debit credit card so she could draw funds from the accounts.

Melgren commended the Internal Revenue Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Baxter Springs, Kan., Police Department and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger for their work on the case.