Murphysboro Woman Indicted on Bank Embezzlement Charges

Murphysboro Woman Indicted on Bank Embezzlement Charges

U.S. Attorney's OfficeApril 25, 2014

Southern District of Illinois (618) 628-3700

Buffy A. Bastien, 41, of Murphysboro, Illinois, 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 that 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 five 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.