Manchester 'Robin Hood' banker gets year in prison
A Manchester bank manager who insists she gave the $340,000 she stole over eight years to needy customers was sentenced Tuesday to a year and a day in prison by a judge who declared that her "Robin Hood days are long over."
Patricia Keezer, 53, of Clinton, said the embezzling began in 2000, when she would give needy people $2,000 at a time for car repairs, mortgage payments and taxes. Keezer commonly reversed bounced-check charges and other fees when she was a manager of Citizens Bank, formerly known as Republic Bank, in Manchester.
"I would take other people's problems and make them my problems," Keezer told the judge. "I do have a problem with giving things away."
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Shaw asked for two years in prison and said Keezer's claim of a crime rooted in charity was "implausible."
"We don't know where the money is. ... It just doesn't add up," Shaw said.
But defense lawyer Raymond Cassar noted there's no trail of luxuries. He asked the judge to sentence Keezer to home confinement.
"She didn't use it on herself. She didn't bury it in the ground. She didn't give it to her husband," he said of the missing money. "She gave it away. It's believable."
U.S. District Judge Marianne Battani chose to impose the minimum sentence for a convict to earn time off for good behavior.
"You are like a modern day Robin Hood," Battani said of the folklore hero who stole from the rich and gave to the poor. "Those Robin Hood days are long over."
The embezzlement was discovered a year ago. Authorities say Keezer covered her tracks by preparing false records and disguising the true value of the bank's cash by covering stacks of $1 bills with $100 bills during audits.
A bank official who was in the courtroom declined to comment.
Comments
bankerbabe
Tue, Oct 13, 2009 : 10:26 p.m.
bee54: While I understand you know this woman and she supposedly has a strong faith, what happened to "thou shalt not steal"? While she believed that she was doing a good deed, it was not hers to do. Fine if she wants to give all HER money to the poor, but it's like the movie "It's a Wonderful Life" - the money in the bank was not HER money to give away. It was deposited by your neighbor, and used to build your other neighbor's house. Refunding fees may have taken the stress off another person's shoulders, but again - who did she think she was? She had no business stealing "my" money to give to someone else. And how did this go unnoticed by the bank for so long? I'm all for forgiveness and paying the consequences for your actions, but clearly she wasn't thinking of what this would do to her family. Does anyone know if she has already gone to prison? I hope she gets some help.
weezy
Tue, Oct 13, 2009 : 7:16 p.m.
Thank you finally someone who wonders why the bank did not catch it. Obviously the auditors were not doing their job. Are they being held accountable for lack of attention? Amaizenman, if you had spoke with all those people then you know the local Manchester paper did print that restitution is being made. By the way, no I'm not stupid, just looking at the whole pictue.
bankerbabe
Sat, Oct 10, 2009 : 11:55 p.m.
Doesn't anyone wonder how this could have gone on for 8 years without anyone knowing about it? What kind of controls are there that would overlook this? Saying she did it out of the goodness of her heart is probably true, but it wasn't her money to give away. It belonged to the people of Manchester who banked with the bank. She stole the money - period. It doesn't matter if she gave it to the Red Cross or to the guy next door. It was wrong. And - someone at the bank should also be held responsible for letting it happen. From the date it started, it was before Citizens took over the bank from Republic, but wouldn't you think someone in either of the banks should have found this? Don't they count the cash in that bank or check these things. I wouldn't want to be part of a bank that ran things so badly.
amaizenman
Fri, Oct 9, 2009 : 6:56 p.m.
weezy, Where is the proof of where the money went. All that was stated in the article is that she didn't keep any of the money for herself. If you are stupid enough to believe somebody is going to steal $340,000 to give away I feel sorry for you. If you read the article, you will have noticed the US Attorney prosecuting the case even said that her story was simply unbelieveable. I have talked to five different people from the Clinton and Manchester area and they all indicated they could not believe she was getting off so easy and that no mention has been made of paying any of the money back. The article also indicated she "made other peoples problems her own" actually what she did was make "other peoples money her own"
weezy
Fri, Oct 9, 2009 : 4:10 p.m.
As the article stated, none of the money was for the benefit of her or her family. Her children and grandchildren need to be left out of this.
susan
Fri, Oct 9, 2009 : 11:21 a.m.
to chelseagirl- probably poor upbringing. to cinnabar7071-stupid remark.
amaizenman
Fri, Oct 9, 2009 : 6:25 a.m.
As I check back on this article and continue to see comparisons made between what this "common thief" did and our economy problems and the banking bail out, I am amazed at the number of people that don't see a problem with a person that is given the authority and trust to manage a bank which is supposed to take care of other peoples money, not steal it. I have read the court news in various newspapers from Michigan and Lenawee County and their are people getting longer jail sentences for writing a "bad" check for a few hundred dollars than what this "common thief" is getting for stealing thousands. By the way, with several children and some grandchildren, does it ever dawn on people that these "needy" people that received the benefit of her deeds may be her own family..
skeezix59
Thu, Oct 8, 2009 : 7:29 p.m.
To wheezy, great minds think alike.
David Briegel
Thu, Oct 8, 2009 : 6:11 p.m.
The mistake she made was not stealing billions. Wall Street stole 7 trillion dollars and not one single banker in jail. And all us suckers bailed them out in the name of free enterprise because we hate socialism? Really? Hank Paulson, chairman of the billionaire boys club at Goldman Sachs and then Treas Secy benefitted his old firm with 15 billion in the AIG bailout and I'll bet not one of you knows that! I remember when my minister taught me that Jesus said "blessed are the bankers". The bankers rent our govt right under our noses and not a peep! NOT ONE PEEP!! We argue over the "little people", our neighbors. Put our neighbors in prison while the big criminals remain free. And all that makes us feel.......?
Tort Reform
Thu, Oct 8, 2009 : 8:43 a.m.
LOL - "using tax money to fix a broken economy"...
amaizenman
Thu, Oct 8, 2009 : 6:04 a.m.
Ubelieveable!! People making excuses and supporting a "thief". I too was a long time Clinton resident, and I'm not buying the "I gave all the money to the needy" story. There has really been no proof mentioned to support this claim. Patty has shown apparently crime does pay. $340,000 and 366 day jail term. I believe this works out to about $1,000 for each day in jail. Not a bad hourly wage. No mention of "paying any of the money" back. What a great deal for Patty. This took place over an extended period of time, she created a well devised deversion to willfully steal money that didn't belong to her. Anyone that condones or supports her in this situation needs to get a clue. This is a black eye for the little community of Clinton since her husband is a public servant as well.
weezy
Wed, Oct 7, 2009 : 11:45 p.m.
Well put skeezix59 and I agree 100%. I have known Patty for almost 40 years and am proud to say she is my friend. I support her. By the way, cinnabar, there's no way she thinks she's Obama. in4mation, didn't the tax payers bail out the banks????? It's about time they paid back!!!
skeezix59
Wed, Oct 7, 2009 : 8:21 p.m.
I have known Patty for almost my whole life. I grew up here in this small town. To see this story online, instead of the daily paper, tells alot about this...most of us, here in Manchester, have already known what had happened for some time, we are a close knit family, and though we may have our own opinions, do not judge..."there by the grace of god go thee". Just like the newpaper shutting down, car dealerships closing,mortages collaspsing, people are desparate,everything is going to hell in a handbasket. I can tell you this....if she did reverse charges, ect. I know she did so in order to alleviate some stress in that person's life, she is a true, good hearted woman....and took upon that stress, to her own shoulders, knowing that the consequences could and would be devastating....that's what we Manchesterites do....help those who need help! It is why so many people come here, looking for the "welcome home" feeling. Many of you will not remember the day's when our banker, was our freind...or the grocer, our gaurdian angel... but I do, and she does. And if she had the chance to"help" again, I know she would...and so will I. For all those who are reading this...and feel sorry. Don't feel sorry for her, she is a strong woman with great faith. Feel only sorry for yourself....if you never knew her, what she stands for and with what grace she walks with.
bee54
Wed, Oct 7, 2009 : 7:52 p.m.
I know both of these women - both are a surprise, both gave to the community. Both are good people who made a poor choice. Robin DID apologize to the cem board. Patty DID apologize in court. Maybe we should teach compassion and forgiveness. Both of these women have sincerely expressed their sorrow for their actions. I'm not condoning their actions, but I am promoting our compassionate reaction to these events. They are not violent and they can do more to right their wrong and get their life on the right track living with their families.
ChelseaGirl
Wed, Oct 7, 2009 : 2:48 p.m.
Again, what about the people who received the money from Patty? Are they being held responsible, do they have to pay it back. There is no such thing as free money
djm12652
Wed, Oct 7, 2009 : 2:41 p.m.
I don't care who you steal from and where it goes...it's a crime, plain and simple. Even the most altruistic gesture doesn't change the law.
XOXOXO
Wed, Oct 7, 2009 : 2:34 p.m.
Scully didn't spend one night in jail, and NEVER apologized to any of the groups from whom she asked for money. What message does that send to her kids? Or to any of the kids here in town? That's it's ok to lie, cheat, and steal as long as you use your families money to pay it back? I know both of these women......I would have never suspected Patty.
mlpn
Wed, Oct 7, 2009 : 1:50 p.m.
So it's kind of like stilling from the poor and giving to the rich....hmmm.
ChelseaGirl
Wed, Oct 7, 2009 : 10:56 a.m.
Do we know any of the Mancheter residents that received the money and are they being held accountable for accepting it?
ChelseaGirl
Wed, Oct 7, 2009 : 10:53 a.m.
Nope, no money, not even a free sucker
weezy
Wed, Oct 7, 2009 : 10:51 a.m.
You're right it is dispicable that Robin stole from the cemetary, I was in no way saying it was ok. I was just pointing out the difference in what they did. Robin to benefit herself, Patty to help the people of Manchester who came to her in great need. You didn't get any money?????????
ChelseaGirl
Wed, Oct 7, 2009 : 10:42 a.m.
Weezy, Robin stole from the "dead" people of Manchester which is dispicable. I live in Manchester and I didnt get any money!
weezy
Wed, Oct 7, 2009 : 10:40 a.m.
The difference between the two one stole for their own benefit and profit, the other to help people in Manchester that the government and economy were taking under.
AccruedInterest
Wed, Oct 7, 2009 : 10:07 a.m.
yeah, embezzling $350k is the same as using tax money to fix a broken economy. btw how much did W's pal Kenny Boy steal?
cinnabar7071
Wed, Oct 7, 2009 : 9:35 a.m.
She thinks shes Obama.
ChelseaGirl
Wed, Oct 7, 2009 : 9:32 a.m.
Boy, I feel bad for these business. First Robin Scully embezzles from the Manchester Cemetary, now Keezer steels from the bank. Where do these women get these ideas from?