A Juneau man pleaded guilty to federal theft charges after stealing nearly $580,000 from multiple banks and credit unions between 2019 and 2022.
Austin Nolan Dwight Rutherford, 29, pleaded guilty Thursday to federal charges of theft, embezzlement, and misapplication of funds by a person connected in a capacity with a bank and credit union. An internal audit discovered he had stolen $579,400 during his time employed as an armed transport guard for a private company that serviced major banks and credit unions.
The company serviced banks such as U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo Bank, Key Bank and Alaska USA Federal Credit Union. According to a news release by the Department of Justice, Rutherford began stealing funds after he was transferred to the company’s Juneau branch in March 2020 and continued until May 2022.
After his guilty plea, Rutherford is now scheduled for sentencing by a federal district court judge on Aug. 17. He faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, a fine of $1 million and up to life on supervised release.
Rutherford has agreed to pay back the amount stolen as part of his plea.
• Contact reporter Clarise Larson at clarise.larson@juneauempire.com or (651)-528-1807.
