Former SC bank manager charged with theft from elderly client
From Staff Reports July 25, 2012 1:30PM
Lynn Pranga
Updated: August 27, 2012 11:12AM
ST. CHARLES — The former manager of a branch bank here has been charged with stealing money from an elderly customer’s account at the bank, police announced Wednesday.
A six-month long police investigation resulted in criminal charges being filed against the suspect Lynn A. Pranga, 56, of the 200 block of Fairhaven Drive. She was taken into custody Tuesday and formally charged with financial exploitation of the elderly, forgery, and felony theft.
According to a release from the St. Charles Police Department, officers were notified in January by MB Financial Bank representatives that a customer, who police said is more than 60 years old, came to the St. Charles branch at 2607 Lincoln Hwy. The victim said his five-year certificate of deposit had been changed to a one-year CD and now had less money than he had originally started with. The victim was told that records showed he had made several withdrawals on the account, but he denied making them. Bank officials and police began an investigation.
Police said they obtained subpoenas for various bank accounts and the investigation found several withdrawals and deposits were made on the victim’s accounts. The withdrawals and deposits were made from not only from the original 5-year CD account, but also from his other two accounts at the bank between June 2009 and June 2011.
It was determined that the withdrawals and deposits had been made by former branch manager Pranga, police said.
Pranga’s bail was set at $30,000 on the charges. She was released after posting bond and was given an Aug. 8 court date, according to the release.
