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Police: Bank worker stole from customers

Thefts over 20 months added up to $35,400

LAKE PLACID — An Oswego County woman has been charged with allegedly stealing $35,400 while working at a bank in Lake Placid.

The woman, Francesca L. Riley of West Monroe, is accused of transferring money from customers’ accounts into her own account while working at Community Bank, according to New York State Police Troop B Public Information Officer Jennifer Fleishman.

The thefts happened over the course of more than a year-and-a-half, between Jan. 1, 2018, to Sept. 17, 2019, according to State Police.

Riley was arrested at 9:06 a.m. on Monday and charged with three counts of third-degree grand larceny, a felony, and three counts of third-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, a misdemeanor. She was arraigned in North Elba Town Court and released. She is scheduled to reappear in court at a later date, according to police.

Managers of the Lake Placid branch referred questions to Community Bank’s corporate headquarters. A representative of the company declined to answer questions specifically on the case.

“Community Bank N.A. is dedicated to the security and well-being of our customers, employees and neighbors,” said Hal Wentworth, senior vice president for retail banking at Community Bank. “We are cooperating with the police, however per our company (policy), we cannot comment on an ongoing investigation.”

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