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The Honolulu Advertiser

Updated at 11:22 a.m., Friday, November 30, 2007

Former Hawaii bank worker indicted for alleged theft

BY Rick Daysog
Advertiser Staff Writer

A federal grand jury has indicted a former American Savings Bank employee for allegedly stealing money from a 92-year-old customer.

In a 10-count indictment unsealed today, the grand jury charged Marilyn De Motta, a former operations supervisor at American Savings' Hawai'i Kai branch, with bank fraud, embezzlement and theft of public funds.

If convicted De Motta faces up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine for each bank fraud and embezzlement charge and up to 10 years in prison and $250,000 fine for each theft of public funds charge.

De Motta's attorney Emmanuel Guerrrero declined comment, saying he has not yet seen the indictment. American Savings also had no immediate comment.

The victim, Ada Lim of Moanalua, sued American Savings last year, alleging De Motta stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from her and that the bank helped cover up the theft. The bank settled the case in January by agreeing to pay Lim more than $1 million.