MORGANTOWN — A bank manager has been arrested for identity theft and embezzlement of more than $200,000.
Karen L. Kinsley, 45, of Grafton, is charged with 16 counts of identity theft and one count of embezzlement. She worked as a branch manager for Clear Mountain Bank at the branch located inside Kroger on Earl L. Core Road, Clint McCabe, chief operating officer, said. Kinsley no longer works for the company, he said.
“Clear Mountain Bank’s first priority is to serve our customers and our community professionally, promptly, and accurately. Upon learning of this incident, we took action immediately to minimize the impact on any affected customers,” McCabe said.
Affected customers have been contacted by the bank and are not responsible for unauthorized transactions, McCabe said.
Embezzlement is a felony and carries a sentence of not less than 10 years in prison. Each count of identity theft is a felony with a penalty of no more than five years in prison and/or no more than a $1,000 fine.
According to criminal complaints:
After being questioned about an outstanding loan in his name, a customer of Clear Mountain Bank identified the loan as fraudulent. In December 2017 detectives from the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department met with bank administrators to discuss the report.
The bank investigated and discovered 24 fraudulent loans totaling $232,500 created at one branch. Further review showed each loan was executed by Kinsley, the manager. Each loan required the victims’ personal information and credit history to satisfy loan requirements.
Victims were contacted individually and 16 different individuals said they didn’t authorize the loans. Three of the victims are related to Kinsley and three have personal ties to her, the complaint states.
