Sioux Falls woman sentenced to 12 months for embezzlement

A 46-year-old Sioux Falls, S.D. woman was sentenced this week in federal court to 12 months in prison in connection with embezzling more than $35,000 from the accounts of 12 customers of a Duluth bank.

United States District Court Chief Judge James Rosenbaum also sentenced Charlene Louise Royer April 28 in Minneapolis to pay a $31,600 in restitution and to serve three years of supervised release.

According to Royer’s plea agreement, from Nov. 28, 2004, to Nov. 15, 2005, she was an employee of Republic Bank in Duluth. During that time period, she did knowingly embezzle and willfully misapply monies entrusted to the custody and care of the bank by unlawfully diverting approximately $35,400 from the accounts of 12 customers to her own use and benefit.

Royer was charged with the one count on Aug. 21, 2007, and pleaded guilty on Sept. 21, 2007.

This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and was prosecuted by Acting U.S. Attorney Frank J. Magill.