News and Press Releases
Former Mankato bank officer pleads guilty to embezzling bank funds
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 17, 2012
MINNEAPOLIS—Earlier today in federal court in St. Paul, a former retail operations
officer for the United Prairie Bank in Mankato pleaded guilty to embezzling between $30,000
and $120,000 in customer accounts for her personal use. Carolyn Faye Hampel, age 65, of
Jackson, pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement by a bank officer. Hampel, who was
charged on April 6, 2012, entered her plea before United States District Court Judge Donovan
W. Frank.
In her plea agreement, Hampel admitted that from January of 2005 through August of 2011,
she embezzled the bank funds. In addition, she admitted using the stolen funds for her personal
use, including paying down a loan balance for a family member.
For her crime, Hampel faces a potential maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. Judge
Frank will determine her sentence at a future hearing. This case is the result of an investigation
by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney
Kimberly A. Svendsen.
