Ulysses Bank Tell Pleads Guilty To Embezzlement

A former bank employee has pleaded guilty to embezzling from a bank in Grant County, Kan., and helping stage a robbery to cover up the theft, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.

Amber Gutierrez, 32, Ulysses, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of theft from a bank. In her plea, she admitted that she and other former bank employees embezzled from the bank and staged a robbery.

From 2008 to July 24, 2010, while Gutierrez was head teller, she and two co-defendants embezzled approximately $84,200 from Western State Bank in Ulysses, Kan. On July 24, 2010, Gutierrez aided and abetted a staged bank robbery. Subsequent to the staged bank robbery, Gutierrez and co-defendants embezzled another $24,450 from the bank.

Gutierrez is set for sentencing Feb. 4.

Co-defendants are:

Ashley Cravens, who is set for a change of plea hearing Nov. 22.

Hattie Wiginton, who is set for jury trial Dec. 17.

Linda Wise, who is set for jury trial Dec. 17.

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.