Third Former Bank Employee Pleads Guilty To Embezzling from Western State Bank

A third former bank employee has pleaded guilty to embezzling from a bank in Grant County, Kan., U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.

Linda Wise, 60, Ulysses, Kan., pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of theft from a bank. In her plea, she admitted that from late 2010 to March 2013 while she worked at Western State Bank in Ulysses, Kan., she embezzled money from the bank.

Subsequent to July 24, 2010, she conspired with fellow employees and co-defendants Ashley Cravens and Amber Gutierrez to steal money from the bank. From late 2010 to March 2013, the three stole a total of $24,450 from the bank.

Co-defendants are:
Amber Gutierrez, 32, Ulysses, Kan., who is set for sentencing Feb. 4.
Ashley Cravens, 29, Ulysses, Kan., who is set for sentencing Feb. 7.
Hattie Wiginton, 33, Ulysses, Kan., who is set for jury trial Jan. 21.

Grissom commended the FBI, the KBI, the Grant County Sheriff?s Office, the Ulysses Police Department and Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Smith for their work on the case.