Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Starling enters pleas in embezzlement case

Pamela Starling, a former employee of the Bank of Delight and bookkeeper for Starling and Lynch Logging, Inc. of Delight, entered a plea on six criminal counts.

According to a release from the U.S. Attorney Robert Balfe, Starling was initially charged with starting the scheme in July 1992, and continuing through August 2002, where she used her position at the bank and as bookkeeper to divert deposits to cover money she reportedly embezzled with checks illegally drawn on the account of Starling and Lynch Logging, Inc.

The information charges Starling used the embezzled money to buy jewelry, vehicles, conduct home remodeling, including a swimming pool, and invest in certificates of deposit.

According to Balfe, Starling entered pleas to federal violations concerning the abuse of her position as a bank teller at a federally insured institution as well as money laundering for the diversion of the deposits to her illegal use.

U.S. District Judge Robert Dawson, in accepting Starlings plea, allowed her to remain free no bond and stated sentencing would occur about 10 weeks after a pre-sentence investigation has been concluded.

The case was investigated by agents of the FBI and the IRS criminal investigation divisions.