Christopher James Diestler, Bank Larceny, Minnesota 2013

Former Armored Truck Driver Pleads Guilty to Stealing from ATMs

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota - A former armored truck driver has pleaded guilty to stealing money from automated teller machines (ATMs) in numerous locations in Minnesota and North Dakota.

Christopher James Diestler, age 31, of Fergus Falls, pleaded guilty to one count of bank larceny in federal court today. Diestler, who was indicted on July 16, 2013, entered his plea before United States District Chief Judge Michael J. Davis.

According to his plea agreement, Diestler admitted to stealing approximately $182,350 from Bremer Bank ATMs in Alexandria, Breckenridge, Detroit Lakes, Fergus Falls, and Morris, Minnesota, and Wahpeton, North Dakota, as well as a Wells Fargo ATM in Alexandria and a U.S. Bank ATM in Fergus Falls.

The thefts occurred from March 2005 through March 15, 2012, while Diestler was working as an armored truck driver for a company out of Sauk Rapids, Minnesota. Diestler took cash from a number of cassettes installed into ATM machines and replaced the missing funds with currency taken from another ATM, making it difficult to detect the thefts through audits.

For his crime, Diestler faces a potential maximum penalty of ten years in prison. Judge Davis will determine his sentence at a future hearing, yet to be scheduled.

The case is the result of an investigation by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office, the Fergus Falls Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lola Velazquez-Aguilu.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mn/pr/former-armored-truck-driver-pleads-guilty-stealing-atms