Former Marshall Bank Employee Admits Theft

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- A Belview woman has pleaded guilty to an embezzlement charge for stealing from customers of the Marshall bank where she worked.

The U.S. attorney's office says 47-year-old Barbara Kaye Rechtzigel pleaded guilty Monday to one count of embezzlement by a bank officer.

Rechtzigel worked as senior operations manager at Minnwest Bank until she was fired in June.

In a plea agreement, she admitted embezzling money by creating false paperwork to make customers believe their CDs were renewed and earning interest, when she was actually taking the money, the U.S. attorney's office said. The bank reimbursed customers more than $1 million.

Rechtzigel faces up to 30 years in prison. Her sentencing hasn't been scheduled.

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