West Virginia: Gambling Addiction

Derrow Gets Probation in Embezzlement Case
October 16, 2010 - By J.W. JOHNSON JR. Staff Writer

A Glen Dale woman who embezzled more than $40,000 from BB&T bank in Moundsville was placed on three years probation Friday for her crime.

Marshall County Circuit Judge Mark A. Karl handed down the sentence to Connie Derrow, 64, despite the prosecution requesting she be incarcerated for her crime.

Derrow pleaded guilty in July to embezzling $44,000.75 from the BB&T bank on Jefferson Avenue. According to the criminal complaint, Derrow worked there as a vault teller and was responsible for receiving cash deposits from area businesses.

The embezzlement occurred over five months between October 2008 and February 2009. A coworker reported Derrow to bank officials after discovering suspicious receipts Derrow had processed.

During an internal investigation, it was discovered Derrow would steal money from the cash deposits and process the money as if it had been deposited, the complaint states. When questioned about the missing funds, Derrow reportedly said she had used the money at Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack and planned to pay it back after she "hit the jackpot."

Derrow spoke of her gambling addiction Friday, telling Karl she believed it is a shame that gambling came to the area in the first place.

"I am still struggling with it," she said.

Though she had paid about $4,000 in restitution to the bank prior to a hearing in September, Derrow has not made payments since then. Derrow admitted to Karl that in the past few months she had attempted to acquire money to pay restitution by gambling.

Marshall County Assistant Prosecutor Eric Gordon said though BB&T officials had said they preferred restitution over jail time for Derrow, they were not opposed to time being imposed and he requested that Derrow serve time.

However, in handing down the sentence, Karl said Derrow's age and lack of criminal history was reason enough to allow her to remain free and on probation.

''I can't in good conscience put her in a penitentiary,'' he said.

Karl sentenced Derrow to one to 10 years in jail, suspended for three years probation. Along with the regular stipulations of probation, Derrow must seek employment within the next 30 days and provide proof to the court.