A former bank employee has pleaded guilty to embezzling from a southwest Kansas bank in Grant County, and helping stage a robbery to cover up the theft, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.

Amber Gutierrez, 32, Ulysses, pleaded guilty to one count of theft from a bank. In her plea, she admitted that she and other former bank employees embezzled from the bank and staged a robbery.

From 2008 to July 24, 2010, while Gutierrez was head teller, she and two co-defendants embezzled approximately $84,200 from Western State Bank in Ulysses.

On July 24, 2010, Gutierrez aided and abetted a staged bank robbery. Subsequent to the staged bank robbery, Gutierrez and co-defendants embezzled another $24,450 from the bank.

Gutierrez is set for sentencing Feb. 4.

Co-defendants are:   Ashley Cravens, who is set for a change of plea hearing Nov. 22; Hattie Wiginton, who is set for jury trial Dec. 17; and Linda Wise, who is set for jury trial Dec. 17.

The FBI, KBI, Grant County Sheriff’s Office, and the Ulysses Police Department investigated the case.