Former Massillon FirstMerit bank employee embezzled more than $160,000 www.privateofficer.com

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CANTON OH Nov 29 2012Authorities say a former Massillon FirstMerit bank employeeembezzled more than $160,000 in cash from 14 elderly customers during afour-year period.
Melanie Stano, 57, of 8265 Beatty St. NW, of Jackson Township,is scheduled to appear Monday in Stark County Common Pleas Court for a pre-trial hearing.Stano, who remains free on her own recognizance, is facing a first-degreefelony count of theft from an elderly person or disabled adult. The charge wasfiled in Common Pleas Court after a county grand jury issued a secretindictment. Stano entered a not guilty plea last week during her arraignment infront of Judge Taryn Heath.
Court papers show Stano, a bank employee for more than 30years, stole the cash from the accounts of elderly bank customers between May2007 and December 2011. The theft allegedly occurred while Stano was employedas a personal banker at FirstMerit’s downtown Massillon branch at Lincoln Way and First Street NW. Stano was firedafter bank officials discovered the theft in February and conducted an internalinvestigation. FirstMerit turned over its findings to Massillon police in September.
Stano reportedly made unauthorized withdrawals from clientaccounts, primarily 401(k) accounts, and deposited them into her personalaccount. It’s not clear how Stano spent the stolen cash.
“There were some questionable withdrawals from an accountand one of the customers came forward. ... This is a pattern that went on forseveral years,” Massillonpolice Det. Bobby Grizzard said.
All of the victims in the case are at least 65 or older,according to Joe Vance, assistant county prosecutor. If convicted, Stano facesa potential sentence ranging from probation to as many as 11 years in prison.The judge also could order Stano, who does not have a prior criminal record, tomake restitution to the victims, said Vance, who declined further comment.
Messages seeking comment were left Tuesday with defenseattorney Arnold Glantz. Attempts to reach FirstMerit spokesman Rob Townsendwere unsuccessful.
Source:IndeOnline.com