Former Wayland bank officer gets three-year federal prison sentence for embezzlement

A Wayland bank officer and board member who stole more than $1 million from her family's business over nine years was sentenced to three years in federal prison, fines and restitution on Tuesday.

Heidi Wagler, 50, of Wayland, pleaded guilty last October to one count of embezzlement by a bank officer. In the plea agreement, she admitted to embezzling at least $864,835 from seven banks owned by Country Bancorporation from June 2004 through October 2013, while serving as a bank officer.

Wagler was in charge of payroll for each of the seven banks. She also was a member of the board of directors of one of the banks and her husband, Russell Wagler, was the director, president and CEO of that same bank.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Morfitt said during Tuesday's hearing that Wagler paid herself over $800,000 and her husband $44,000 from unauthorized payroll funds. She also gave her husband a $156,000 bonus.

Morfitt said the crime was motivated by 'greed.” Wagler lived an 'extravagant lifestyle,” owned a home worth over $500,000 in a small rural town and had stocks and assets.

'She stole from her father and two brothers,” Morfitt said. 'Her father built the family business. She was lying to her family and stealing money for nearly 10 years.”

U.S. District Chief Judge Linda Reade agreed with Morfitt, saying Wagler's motivation was 'pure crime of greed, of avarice.” She decided to 'pursue criminal activity to live outside her means,” and instead of taking care of her debt or asking for help, she stole from her family.

Reade added that because of this conviction, Wagler is out of the banking industry - 'thank goodness.”

Wagler said before being sentenced that she hopes to learn from her mistakes and takes full responsibility for her actions. She also apologized to her father and brothers, who attended the hearing.

Mark Weinhardt, Wagler's lawyer, asked the court to consider less prison time for Wagler because she had no previous history, has taken responsibility for her actions and not only stole from her family but also hurt herself because she was one-third owner of Country Bancorporation.

Reade curtly told Weinhardt that wasn't a defense, to which he agreed.

Weinhardt also pointed out that Wagler had to sell her ownership interest in the holding company, which goes to the family, and a $350,000 civil penalty imposed by Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Her restitution will be paid in the few weeks.

Reade ordered Wagler to pay $1,065,799 in restitution and a $50,000 fine. Reade added that Wagler will also have to paid interest on restitution.

Wagler, who remains on previous pretrial release, was allowed to self-surrender to the prison she will be assigned.