Karen E. Ramm, Bank Fraud, Pennsylvania 2017

HARRISBURG, Pa. – A former bank manager in central Pennsylvania has been indicted on fraud charges for allegedly embezzling nearly $380,000 from her employer, the federal government announced Thursday.

Karen E. Ramm, 50, of Camp Hill, Pa., was a branch manager and loan officer at Commerce Bank (now known as First National Bank of Pennsylvania, successor to Metro Bank) between 2000 and 2010, according to the indictment.

Between 2001 and 2007, Ramm allegedly used her position to fraudulently originate approximately seven loans totaling $379,900 for a customer she knew personally, the indictment alleges.

It is alleged that each loan contained false information regarding the borrower and that Ramm converted a portion of the loan proceeds to her own benefit.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the financial institution’s security and investigations staff.

Assistant U.S. Attorney James T. Clancy is prosecuting the case.

Ramm faces up to 30 years in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine if convicted of the bank fraud charge.

Indictments and criminal informations are only allegations, and all persons charged are presumed innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty under federal law for the bank fraud charge is 30 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.

Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances, and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public, and provide for the defendant’s educational, vocational, and medical needs.

For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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