Louisiana Bank Teller Pleads Guilty to Federal Fraud Charges, Faces up to 30 Years in Prison

Louisiana – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that Karen Farrell Tigler, age 35, of Harvey, Louisiana, pled guilty today to Bank Fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1344, and Making and Subscribing False Tax Returns in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7206(1).

Tigler worked as a multi-service banker for Hancock Whitney Bank from January 1, 2013, to November 14, 2016, according to documents filed in federal court. Tigler worked at a Whitney location in New Orleans, Louisiana. Whitney’s banking client, Client A, was in her mid-80s in 2015 and 2016.

Tigler used her position at the bank to embezzle approximately $349,556 from Client A’s account from February 9, 2015 to October 28, 2016, by using 100 counter checks to debit funds from Client A’s account. Tigler used her bank position to obtain personal information from other legitimate banking transactions in order to create the fraudulent counter checks. To conceal her embezzlement scheme, Tigler forged the signatures of Client A and others on the counter checks.

Tigler used legitimate checks drawn on Client A’s account to prepare fraudulent counter checks. Tigler cashed 21 counter checks totaling $73,924 for “roofing,” “market/garden work,” “light fixtures/cleaning,” “extras plumbing,” “misc. work,” “renovations,” and “maintenance.” Tigler cashed the remaining 79 counter checks totaling approximately $275,632 that were allegedly for “house,” “maintenance,” and “happy birthday.”

Tigler also did not report $134,429 on her 2015 tax return and $215,127 on her 2016 return. Tigler reported $21,290 in W-2 income from the bank in 2015 and $19,256 in 2016. Tigler divided the cash deposits of embezzled funds among her various accounts. Tigler also failed to report $32,180 in gambling winnings on her 2015 tax return. Tigler falsely implicated another individual when confronted by a relative of Client A in order to conceal her embezzlement of funds from Client A’s account.

Tigler faces a maximum penalty of thirty years in prison and/or a fine of up to $1,000,000 or the greater of twice the defendant’s gross gain or twice the defendant’s gross loss to any person under Title 18, United States Code, Section 3571. She could also face supervised release for up to years. Tigler faces a maximum sentence of three (3) years in prison and/or a fine of $100,000.00 plus costs of prosecution, as well as up to _years of supervised release if she enters a guilty plea to Making and Subscribing False Tax Returns. She must also pay a $100 mandatory special assessment fee for each charge to which she has pled guilty.

Complaints about elder fraud can be filed with the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov or 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). Through its Office of Victims of Crime at www.ovc.gov, the Department of Justice provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization. The Elder Justice Website, www.elderjustice.gov, contains additional elder justice resources, training, and outreach materials.

The sentencing hearing in this case is set for August 3, 2022, before United States District Judge Sarah S. Vance.

The United States Attorney’s Office would also like to thank the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, and Hancock Whitney Bank for their assistance with this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Carboni are prosecuting this case.