Eastern District of Oklahoma

FOR RELEASE:   January 28, 2008
SUBJECT:           HAND, Lisa Marlene

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - Sheldon J. Sperling, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, announced today that LISA MARLENE HAND, age 42, of Seminole, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 84 months without parole in federal prison.

“On July 26, 2007, HAND pled guilty in federal court to Making False Bank Record Entries in the Books of an FDIC Insured Bank,” U.S. Attorney Sperling observed.  “She also pled guilty to a forfeiture charge which required that she give up any and all property derived from the charged scheme.”

"HAND was sentenced to 84 months imprisonment, and will then be required to serve a term of 60 months supervised release,” U.S. Attorney Sperling noted.  “She has also been ordered to pay $3,576,627.94 restitution.”

“Charges arose from an exhaustive BancFirst inquiry and thorough investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  HAND, an employee of BancFirst, made false entries in the books of BancFirst with the intent to defraud,” stated U.S. Attorney Sperling.

“From 1999-2005, HAND was a Vault Teller and Teller Supervisor of the BancFirst branch in Seminole, Oklahoma.  In her official capacity, HAND controlled the flow of money in and out of the branch’s vault, teller drawers, and automated teller machines.” 

“The defendant was responsible for preparing the daily vault cash reconciliation reports and providing the to the officers of BancFirst.  She was obligated to reconcile several general ledger accounts at the branch office.”  

“HAND admitted to creating false internal bank documents which purported to show the movement of cash in and out of the branch vault.  She then created separate false internal bank documents in a complex manner.  She used general ledger accounts to disguise the account imbalances which appeared as a result of her initial false entries.” 

“The amount of proceeds obtained by HAND as a result of the offenses was $3,263,696.23, U.S. Attorney Sperling related.  “BancFirst’s internal investigation provided a fantastic foundation for the investigative work of the FBI.  The bank’s Executive V.P/Chief Risk Officer and Assistant V.P./Operational Security Officer are to be commended for leading the internal auditing effort.  They also provided the initial documentary evidence which enabled the FBI Special Agents to build this case,” stated U.S. Attorney Sperling.

“Some people may wonder why the bank didn’t catch the defendant earlier,” U.S. Attorney Sperling queried.  “The sentencing court clearly answered that question.  The defendant abused her position of trust.  She employed sophisticated means to commit the crime.  She co-opted internal controls by exploiting professional relationships.”

“For a time, the ‘hand’ was quicker than the eye.  No more.”

“Importantly, the defendant’s motion for a sentencing variance, or leniency, was denied.  Of course, her criminality occasioned personal and family embarrassment.  I hope anyone else who is similarly tempted will pay attention.  For the next seven years, the punishment piper must be paid.”

“The Honorable James H. Payne, Chief District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over today’s sentencing.  Judge Payne ordered the defendant to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on February 29, 2008, at 12:00 p.m., to begin serving her sentence.”

“Assistant United States Attorney Rob Wallace did a remarkable job to lead the prosecution and represent the government.”