Local woman accused of embezzlement

POLSON - Law enforcement officials are seeking a 52-year-old Charlo woman who allegedly embezzled more than $600,000 from Whitefish Credit Union.

Kathleen Gratton Sammons, a vice-president at the Polson branch of Whitefish Credit Union, was last seen Thursday morning leaving on a work-related errand. No calls or text messages to her cell phone were answered or returned. Cell phone records indicate Sammons' cell phone was used Friday morning in Prairie City, Ore., 550 miles from Polson.

She is charged with theft of property by embezzlement, a felony, and a $500,000 warrant for her arrest has been issued.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Lake County Sheriff's Office Det. Dan Yonkin said some contact has been made.

"She's no longer listed as a missing person," Yonkin said. "Her family has heard from her. She hasn't been located but she's OK."

According to the criminal affidavit, Whitefish Credit Union officials told Polson police detectives that Sammons was recently told she needed to reduce the amount of cash in her vault. Records indicated she had more than enough money, but had requested even more funds from the federal repository. Her request was initially denied, but she tried again and received a reduced amount of money.

The request triggered an audit of the bank's Polson branch. Auditors found the vault short more than $600,000 during their visit Thursday, the same day Sammons was reported missing.

Sammons allegedly contacted her friend, Bob Congdon, before taking off. Court papers say Congdon told law enforcement officials Sammons visited his home Thursday morning and said she was in trouble at work as an auditor was set to visit the bank "as they spoke." Before she left his home, Sammons told Congdon she planned to leave town with a friend.

Her 2007 Chevy Suburban was found three miles east of Pablo in the Snyder Hill Road area Thursday afternoon. Inside the locked vehicle, law enforcement recovered Sammons' purse with 11 credit cards inside but no cash or driver's license. Court papers indicate that Sammons is known to carry around large amounts of cash.

Her husband, Steve, reported that Kathleen "was very restless" last Wednesday, the affidavit states, and had been acting nervously as of late.

Reached Monday afternoon, Whitefish Credit Union CEO Jim Kenyon said he could not comment on the issue as it is an ongoing investigation.

"There are no concerns as far as your monies deposited here," Kenyon said. "Everything is federally insured up to the $250,000 maximum [per depositor]. It pains us this has happened, but it has no impact on our sustainability or footing."

LCSO Undersheriff Jay Doyle said they had not found Sammons as of Monday afternoon, but the investigation is active. He said if she is stopped by law enforcement anywhere nationwide, her name will spark a "hit" in the NCIC system.

"The first thing is to make sure she is OK and to bring her back," Doyle said. "We're working with the family and the investigation is ongoing."

Anyone with information pertaining to the investigation is urged to contact the Lake County Sheriff's Department at 406-883-7301.

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