Former Bank Employees Sentenced For Making False Entries

RALEIGH – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced today in federal court, Chief United States District Judge James C. Dever, III, sentenced APRIL LYNN LOCKLEAR, 36, of Rowland, North Carolina, to 24 months’ imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release.  LOCKLEAR was also ordered to pay $500,000 in restitution, jointly and severally, with CHONA KAY OXENDINE, 32, of Shannon, North Carolina.  OXENDINE was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release.

On March 24, 2015, LOCKLEAR and OXENDINE were indicted by a federal grand jury on 16 counts related to crimes committed while they were employed by the Lumbee Guaranty Bank headquartered in Pembroke, North Carolina.  As a result of a robbery of the branch in Red Springs, North Carolina, on April 9, 2010, an internal audit was conducted and revealed that $500,000 was missing, in addition to the money stolen during the bank robbery.

On November 23, 2015, LOCKLEAR and OXENDINE pled guilty to conspiring to make false entries in bank records.

The investigation of this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigations.  Assistant United States Attorney Felice McConnell Corpening represented the government.