Fed bans Wyoming ex-banker over charity embezzlement

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Hickman was an employee of the bank from July 2021 until her termination in June 2023 while simultaneously working as a bookkeeper for the nonprofit.

“Hickman’s conduct constituted violations of law or regulation, and involved personal dishonesty,” the Fed said in its consent order.

The former banker joined Jonah Bank of Wyoming as a mortgage loan processor and later became a commercial banking assistant, according to her LinkedIn profile. Although the Fed doesn’t name the nonprofit she worked for, her LinkedIn profile indicates that she worked as a part-time executive assistant at Two Fly Foundation for 11 years, from April 2012 to June 2023. 

Hickman has also worked at the McMurry Group of companies as an accounting specialist and in the lease administration department for more than a decade. Now, she works as a grant writer for community and business development at Central Wyoming Counseling Center.

Two Fly organizes a fly fishing tournament every year the Thursday and Friday before Mother’s Day in Casper, Wyoming, to raise money for charities in the state. Since its founding in 2005, the organization has donated more than $3.2 million to 28 charities, according to its website.

The enforcement action, which bans Hickman from participating in any affairs of the banking industry, doesn’t stop the Fed or any state agency from taking any other actions against Hickman. However, the central bank agreed not to take further action against Hickman on matters addressed in the order based on currently known facts, it said. She cannot return to work in the banking industry without written approval from the central bank.

The former banker neither admitted nor denied any wrongdoing but consented to the Fed’s order and agreed to comply with all the provisions mentioned.

The roughly $531 million-asset Jonah Bank of Wyoming, based in Casper, is a community bank with a state charter that specializes in commercial lending. Established in 2006 to support the state’s small businesses and their employees, the lender operates four locations in Cheyenne and Casper.

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