Ex-bank chief’s assets frozen Fraud inquiry under way

Maine Superior Court Justice Jeffrey Hjelm has agreed to freeze $111,000 of the assets of Wendy Dunlea of Carmel, formerly manager of Bangor Savings Bank’s Bucksport branch.

Last week, Yellow Light Breen, a senior vice president at the bank, said the organization was investigating the improper handling of bank and customer funds at the branch. He said the branch manager was no longer with the bank and that the fraud appeared to be the work of one person.

In documents filed at Penobscot County Superior Court, the bank claims that Dunlea admitted to embezzling about $111,000 from the bank. In the same document, Bangor Savings claims that its investigation “uncovered clear and convincing evidence” that Dunlea embezzled $407,000 between 2003 and 2005. The investigation eventually will go back to 1999.

Hjelm agreed to freeze only the amount Dunlea allegedly admitted to taking. He froze both her personal assets and the assets of Dunlea Properties, which she owns with her husband. Bernard J. Kubetz of Bangor, attorney for Bangor Savings, said Dunlea Properties was a trailer park in Bucksport. Kubetz said that as evidence is collected, the bank will ask Hjelm to freeze more of Dunlea’s assets.

Efforts to reach Dunlea’s attorney, Wayne Foote of Bangor, were unsuccessful Tuesday. Foote has not yet filed an answer to the bank’s complaint.

Breen said last week that Bangor Savings would “make right” any losses suffered by bank customers. He said it involved only a handful of customers and accounts owned by the bank. The bank has turned over all available information to appropriate federal agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which has not returned phone calls on the matter.