Murphysboro, Il Woman Indicted On Bank Embezzlement Charges

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Buffy A. Bastien, 41, of Murphysboro, IL, was indicted on April 8, 2014, on bank embezzlement charges in an Indictment returned by a Federal Grand Jury sitting in Benton, Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today.

Bastien was charged in a one count indictment which charges that from about 2010, to on or about February 23, 2014, in Jackson County, Bastien, being an officer and employee of The Bank of Carbondale, a bank whose deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, with intent to injure and defraud The Bank of Carbondale, did willfully embezzle the sum of approximately $229,221.80 of the moneys or funds intrusted to the custody or care of The Bank of Carbondale.

Bastien faces a possible penalty of up to 30 years imprisonment, up to $1,000,000 fine, and supervised release of up to 5 years.

An Indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney George Norwood.