Former employee of Union State Bank admits in a plea agreement that she stole more than $100,000

BIRMINGHAM, Al.
A former employee of a Trussville branch of Union State Bank admits in a plea agreement with federal prosecutors that she stole more than $100,000 from the bank during a four-year period.

Margaret Hill Chancellor was charged in documents filed late Monday by the U.S. Attorneys Office in Birmingham with one  count of bank fraud in connection with the theft of the money. The money was taken between Feb. 1, 2007, and Aug. 24, 2011 -- the day her employment with the bank was terminated, according to her plea agreement, which was also filed Monday.

Among the provisions of the plea agreement, prosecutors agree to to recommend that Chancellor be sentenced to the low end of the advisory guideline range to be calculated by the court at the time of sentencing.

The theft from teller drawers and vault was discovered during an audit at the bank, according to court documents. The audit found that Chancellor, who had five separate accounts with Union State Bank, had created false paperwork, including withdrawal and deposit slips, in order to conceal the theft.

The plea agreement states that the audit showed she had taken more than $100,000. The document charging Chancellor also asks a money judgement against her for $150,000, which the document states represents the amount she obtained