Former Belgrade State Bank Branch Manager Pleads Guilty to Purposefully Evading Reporting Requirements

St. Louis, MO – SHEILA AUBUCHON pled guilty today to charges relating to her willful failure to file reports of more than $100,000 in cash transactions during her employment with Belgrade State Bank, in violation of federal bank reporting requirements.

Aubuchon, of Potosi, Missouri, pled guilty to two felony counts of purposefully causing Belgrade Bank to fail to file currency transaction reports, or CTRs, with the Internal Revenue Service. Under federal law, financial institutions such as Belgrade State Bank are required to file a CTR whenever they process a transaction involving more than $10,000 in U.S. currency. Aubuchon admitted that, on five separate occasions in 2009 and 2010, while serving as the Branch Manager of the Potosi Branch of Belgrade State Bank, she caused the bank to fail to file such reports and did so intentionally for the purpose of evading the reporting requirements. Aubuchon pled guilty to the charges before United States District Judge Rodney W. Sippel, in St. Louis.  Sentencing has been set for June 26, 2015.

Each count to which Aubuchon pled guilty carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. In determining any actual sentence imposed, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.

The case is being investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Internal Revenue Service. Assistant United States Attorney Richard E. Finneran is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.