Grafton woman accused in nearly quarter million dollar embezzlement scheme

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A Taylor County woman is facing 17 charges in Monongalia County for creating bad loans.

Karen L. Kinsley, 45, of Grafton, WV, is charged with embezzlement from a banking institution and identity theft.

She was a manager at a Clear Mountain Bank branch in Morgantown — where police said 16 loans were executed by Kinsley that were not authorized by any of the people under whose names they were created.

Each victim’s personally identifiable information and credit history were used to satisfy loan requirements, totaling approximately $232,500.

An investigation beginning late last December resulted in Kinsley’s arrest Thursday.

She faces 16 counts of identity theft and one count of embezzlement from a banking institution.