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June 18, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Philippi Resident Indicted on
Bank Fraud and Embezzlement Charges

ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA — A 48 year old Philippi, West Virginia, resident was indicted on June 16, 2009, by a Federal Grand Jury sitting in Elkins, West Virginia.

United States Attorney Sharon L. Potter announced that PATRICIA ARLENE POE was named in a 12-count Indictment. The Indictment alleges that POE, an employee of First Central Bank in Philippi, committed bank fraud from July 1998 to December 2003 resulting in total losses of at least $352,321.09 to First Central Bank. Counts Six through Twelve of the Indictment allege that POE embezzled and misapplied monies, funds, or credits from the bank on seven occasions in 2002.

The funds of First Central Bank are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

If convicted, POE faces a maximum penalty of 30 years imprisonment and a fine of $1,000,000 on each count of the Indictment.

The case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew R. Cogar. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

It should be noted that the charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations and not evidence of guilt, and that each defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.