Former Whitaker Bank president pleads guilty to embezzlement

A former Whitaker Bank president admitted in federal court on Wednesday that he embezzled money from the bank.

Thomas Hinkebein, 59, pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement by a bank officer before U.S. District Chief Judge Danny C. Reeves.

Hinkebein admitted that, between Jan. 12, 2016, and Aug. 13, 2018, while he was president of Whitaker Bank, he willfully misapplied assets of the bank. Specifically, he admitted stealing golf carts and other property of Andover Country Club, an asset owned by Whitaker Bank, and seeking reimbursement from Whitaker Bank for a variety of personal expenses, including cellphone service, gym memberships, fuel purchases, vehicle repairs, technology purchases for his family members, shipping expenses and landscaping at his home. To hide the personal nature of these expenses, he falsely reported many of the expenses to Whitaker Bank to make them appear to be legitimate work expenses, the prosecutor said in a press release.

Hinkebein was charged by way of "information," waiving his right to indictment by a grand jury.

Read more: https://www.state-journal.com/crime/former-whitaker-bank-president-pleads-guilty-to-embezzlement/article_ee11df42-ed54-11ea-b2aa-03e7ba171afe.html