TOPEKA, KAN. – A former manager of a credit union in Lawrence was sentenced Tuesday to three years on supervised release for embezzling from the company, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said. She was ordered to pay more than $173,600 in restitution.
Karolyn J. Stattelman, 43, Topeka, pleaded guilty to one count of theft from a credit union. In her plea, she admitted the crime took place while she was manager of the Jayhawk Federal Credit Union at 2901 Lakeview Road in Lawrence, Kan.
She manipulated credit union accounts for money orders, share drafts, ATM and returned checks in order to conceal the thefts.
She also allowed co-defendant Christi Marie Hout, who was a teller, to write checks on Hout’s personal and business accounts when Hout did not have sufficient funds to cover them.
Hout pleaded guilty to one count of theft of credit union funds. She is set for sentencing Jan. 7.
Grissom commended the Lawrence Police Department, the U.S. Secret Service and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Kenney for their work on the case.
