Former Bank Employee Sentenced in Bank Theft

MELINDA BILLIOT, age 32, a resident of Bourg, Louisiana, was sentenced today in federal court by U.S. District Court Judge Carl J. Barbier to five years’ probation for bank larceny, announced U.S. Attorney Jim Letten.

According to court documents, BILLIOT pled guilty on November 5, 2010, admitting that between January and April, 2009, while employed as an assistant manager and bank teller by Whitney National Bank, she stole approximately $12,800 from her teller drawer and used the money for her own personal gain. BILLIOT was able to do this by creating fictitious auditing reports which reflected that her drawer was balanced at the end of her shifts. The deficiency was later discovered through a bank audit. BILLIOT has already repaid the $12,800 to the bank.

The case was investigated by the special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jon Maestri.