The Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — The account holders who allegedly had as much as $1.2 million embezzled from their accounts were reimbursed by Alpine Bank earlier this year.

Terri Dawn Moody Fatka, who pleaded guilty to four counts each of felony theft and forgery June 23, is due for sentencing later this month. Her alleged conspirator, Pamela Jean Williams, entered not guilty pleas this week, and her case will go to trial next year.

The six identified victims all were reimbursed by Alpine Bank after the alleged thefts were discovered, regional president Glenn Davis said. The bank carries insurance to protect against such losses, he said.

“We have taken care of all the customers who were involved in this as victims,” Davis said.

Whether any form of restitution will be part of the accused embezzlers’ sentences remains to be seen. Fatka is due for sentencing in Routt County District Court on Aug. 27.

Williams’ trial, set for seven days, will begin at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 2, 2009, in Routt County District Court.

Choosing victims

In a June interview with Steamboat Springs police detectives, Fatka described how she and Williams allegedly handpicked their targets and tried to cover their tracks.

Their first victim, who frequented the drive-up window at Alpine Bank, “just always seemed out of sorts and never knew how much money she had,” Fatka told investigators. In February 2005, the women allegedly conspired to steal $200 from her account, using forged advice of charge forms.

By the time of their Feb. 21 arrests, Williams and Fatka allegedly had stolen as much as $1.2 million from six different account holders. The pair specifically selected people who were not signed up to monitor their accounts online and demonstrated that they kept poor track of their accounts.

— To reach Melinda Dudley, call 871-4203

or e-mail mdudley@steamboatpilot.com