Sunday, February 2, 2014

Former City Clerk in Havana, Kansas Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement

A former city clerk for the city of Havana, Kansas pleaded guilty Wednesday to embezzling funds from the city and from her church, United States Attorney Barry Grissom said. She agreed to pay restitution of approximately $14,658 to the city of Havana and $44,568 to Cross Point Baptist Church. Diana L Cox, 67, Havana, Kansas, pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of wire fraud. In her plea, she admitted embezzling $14,658 from the city of Havana while she was working as city clerk.

On August 18, 2011, she presented documents to the Arvest Bank in Caney, Kansas, falsely stating that the Havana City Council had voted to change its policy to require only one signature on checks written for city business. She also admitted that while she was treasurer of the Cross Point Baptist Church she devised a scheme to defraud the church of approximately $44,568. On December 30, 2011, she caused the church to electronically transfer approximately $2,536 to Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance to make a mortgage payment due on her daughter’s home. Sentencing is set for April 16.

She faces a maximum penalty of 30 years and a fine up to $1 million on the bank fraud count and a maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the wire fraud count. Grissom commended the FBI and Assistant United States Attorney Mona Furst for their work on the case.

No comments:

Post a Comment