STRATEGIC PARTNERS
January 30, 2002
MINNEAPOLIS -- A St. Paul woman was sentenced to three years in prison for her role in a family scheme that netted $80,000 in stolen funds from U.S. Bank using ATM machines.
Alice L. Norris, according to an Associated Press report, cooperated with authorities in the investigation and received a lighter sentence than called for in sentencing guidelines. Three other relatives pleaded guilty last year and were sentenced to terms from two to five years. Another is still awaiting sentencing.
Between April 1998 and February 2000, Norris family members recruited more than 80 individuals to open U.S. Bank checking accounts with $100 provided by the family. The culprits then made fraudulent deposits using ATM cards on Fridays after the banks closed, then escorted recruits to ATM machines to make withdrawals of up to $2,800 during the weekend. The Norris family paid the recruits between $50 and $1,000, the AP report said.
