Former bank employees charged with embezzlement

Five former employees of the Wytheville branch of Carter Bank and Trust were indicted on embezzlement charges last week. Their indictments were sealed until arrests were made last Wednesday, Oct. 21.
Charged with embezzling $57,000 from the bank were the following:
—April M. Aker, 39, of Wytheville.
—Jennifer M. Blanchett, 27, of Rural Retreat.
—Cindy P. Booher, 39, of Max Meadows.
—Stacy N. Buchanan, 25, of Max Meadows.
—Valerie L. Jones, 55, of Wytheville.
According to Sgt. M.T. Conroy of the Virginia State Police, the investigation began several months ago when Carter Bank and Trust conducted an internal audit, which revealed accounting irregularities. The audit showed approximately $57,000 had been taken from the bank’s vault.
Once the discrepancies were noticed, Conroy said, the bank notified the state police. He said the bank’s internal audit and the state police investigation revealed that no customers’ accounts were affected.
“Internal theft is hard to detect in any case,” the sergeant said. “There are internal safety controls in place to detect it but if someone in the position of these controls is involved then it’s more difficult to detect.”
He pointed out anyone who has knowledge of such theft and does not report it can be charged with embezzlement, too.
Conroy also reported all the money had been recovered. He said it was repaid through the women’s attorneys.
All five women were each released on a $5,000 bond.
The investigation is ongoing, according to Conroy.
The Enterprise learned several weeks ago that five of the bank’s employees had apparently been fired and were facing possible embezzlement charges. Neither police nor bank officials, though, would confirm the terminations or comment on possible charges.
“We have no comment since this is a pending case,” Clint Ison, manager of the Wytheville branch on 325 E. Spring St., said Monday morning.
All five women have an initial court date set for Dec. 9.
In an unrelated case, the Wythe County Sheriff’s Office has charged a Rural Retreat man with felony attempted breaking and entering and reckless handling of a firearm. Bryan F. Kitts, 36, of Matney Flats Road was arrested around 6:45 p.m. Saturday.
According to Chief Deputy Keith Dunagan, deputies were dispatched to a residence on Matney Flats Road regarding a report of someone driving in the yard, beating on the house, kicking the door and threatening to kill the resident. When they arrived, officers identified Kitts as the person in the yard and determined he was in possession of a pistol and shotgun.
In another case, the sheriff’s office is investigating the report of the theft of a checkbook and $2,000 in cash from the residence of Wesley Edwards in Barren Springs. There was no sign of forced entry.
Wayne Quesenberry can be reached at 228-6611 or .