Wayland bank officer convicted of embezzling more than $800,000

A bank officer and board member of Country Bancorporation in Wayland pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court to embezzling more than $800,000 from seven banks controlled by the company.

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

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.

She also admitted that she paid herself excess compensation from each of the seven banks for performing payroll duties at various times over the course of the embezzlement. Wagler also paid her husband unwarranted compensation from January 2008 through November 2013.

Wagler faces up to 30 years in federal prison and a fine of up to twice the loss resulting from her offense. She could also be ordered to pay restitution to any victims.

Sentencing hasn't yet been set, and Wagler remains free on conditions previously set pending her sentencing.