Cynthia Bright, Bank Fraud, Kansas 2023

A former bank employee has pleaded guilty to stealing more than $2.5 million from a Crawford County bank, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.

Cynthia Bright, 55, of Girard, Kan., entered her guilty plea on Wednesday to one count of bank fraud. In her plea, she admitted to stealing the money over a period of 10 years while working as operations supervisor at Girard National Bank.

Bright used several different methods to steal the money. In some cases, she wrote checks on her own accounts and altered electronic bank records so the checks would clear but the money would not be taken out of her account. In other cases, she removed paper checks and altered records to post checks to other accounts. She diverted funds from the bank’s accounts to her own accounts, and she wrote large counter checks to conceal losses.

The thefts occurred over a decade, from an unspecified start date to an unspecified end date, while Bright worked at Girard National Bank. The total amount stolen is over $2.5 million.

Bright is set to be sentenced on September 15. Both parties have agreed to recommend a sentence of 70 months in federal prison and an order of restitution for the full amount of the thefts.

Grissom commended the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart for their work on the case.

U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom praised the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart for their efforts in bringing Bright to justice. ‘Their work on this case is a testament to their dedication to holding accountable those who commit white-collar crime,’ Grissom said.

The case is a reminder that financial crimes can have severe consequences for individuals and communities. Bright’s actions not only caused financial harm but also eroded trust in the banking system.

The outcome of the case serves as a warning to those who engage in similar activities. The FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work together to investigate and prosecute white-collar crimes.

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