Dealership Office Manager Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud

ALEXANDRIA, La: United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that Dianne Handy, 43, of Alexandria, La., pleaded guilty Wednesday before U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell to defrauding more than $57,894 from Leglue Nissan where she was office manager.

Handy pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud involving credit card transactions she processed through Peoples State Bank. According to court documents, Handy fraudulently caused Leglue Nissan in Alexandria to issue refunds to her own credit cards more than 72 times between July 2009 and July 2011 for a total of $57,894. As office manager, Handy was responsible for handling the dealership’s daily cash deposits, processing credit card transactions and making salary payments.

Handy faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine or both, and five years of supervised release for the count of bank fraud. Handy is scheduled to appear April 3, 2013, for sentencing in U.S. District Court in Alexandria.

The U.S. Secret Service, Baton Rouge Office, conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Howard Parker is prosecuting the case.