A bank employee stole $150,000 over 14 years. She was caught when the customer died.

A southeast Kansas woman who pleaded guilty to stealing $150,000 from a customer's bank account over 14 years was caught after the customer died, officials said.

Phyllis Lanning, 61, of Coffeyville pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said in a release on Tuesday. Lanning admitted that while she worked at Condon National Bank in Coffeyville, "she created and mailed falsified documents in order to conceal the fact she stole $150,000 from a customer's account."

The legitimate monthly statements were diverted to a postal box in Bartlesville, Okla., that she controlled, the release said. She sent counterfeit statements to the account's owner.

"The theft was discovered after the owner of the account died and family members took control of the account," the release said.

A previous U.S. attorney release from when Lanning was indicted said the crimes occurred from 2003 to 2017 in Montgomery County. The FBI investigated.

If convicted, Lanning faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.

This story was originally published July 10, 2018 at 4:09 PM.