Ex-bank manager took $5M for gambling, cars

By LISA CORNWELL The Associated Press

First Published May 17 2016 08:00PM • Last Updated May 17 2016 08:00 pm

Cincinnati • A former bank branch manager who pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $5 million that prosecutors said she used for gambling, sporty cars and motorcycles has been sentenced to 5 1/2 years in prison.

Amy Scarpelli, who last year pleaded guilty to embezzling over a four-year span, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Dayton. The judge also ordered Scarpelli, the former manager of a U.S. Bank branch in Miamisburg, to pay restitution of $5.2 million.

Scarpelli, 48, told the judge before sentencing that she has taken responsibility for her actions, defense attorney Dennis Gump said Tuesday. The defense maintained she had a gambling addiction and sought a sentence of no more than four years. Prosecutors had asked for nearly six years.

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Gump said they were disappointed in the sentence.

"We thought it should be lower because we mentioned other cases that were similar that involved more money that got less time," Gump said.

The judge relied more on an evaluation that put too much emphasis on the assets Scarpelli acquired and less on her gambling addiction, Gump said.

He said there had been no decision on whether to appeal the sentence.

A message seeking comment from prosecutors was left Tuesday at the U.S. attorney's office.

Scarpelli embezzled the money using a Miamisburg company's line of credit account even after the company closed the account, according to court records. She would issue cashier's checks of less than $50,000 drawn on loans, lines of credit and other transactions and convert that to cash that she would pocket, court records said.

Authorities said Scarpelli used the money to gamble, maintain several bank accounts and buy items including four cars, six motorcycles, three boats and real estate.

As part of the plea agreement, Scarpelli agreed to turn over the items and more than $40,000 in cash.

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