Bertha Banker Pleads Guilty to Theft

BERTHA - A central Minnesota banker has pleaded guilty in federal court to stealing 80-thousand dollars from his former employer.

Sixty-seven-year-old Kenneth Ashbaugh admitted taking the money from Star Bank in Bertha from September 2010 through June of 2011. He also admitted that he obtained loans by misrepresenting the identity of the individual or the applicant's ability to repay the loan.

Ashbaugh was the vice president and branch manager at the time.

He faces up to ten years in prison at sentencing.