Ironwood bank teller pleads guilty to embezzlement charge

BESSEMER — An Ironwood bank teller pleaded guilty to attempting to embezzle money Tuesday in Gogebic County Circuit Court.

Karen Melanie Sell, 53, of Ironwood entered a guilty plea to one count of attempted embezzlement by an agent or trustee of more than $1,000 and less than $20,000, a felony with a maximum penalty of 2 1/2 years in prison and/or a fine of $10,000, or three times the amount embezzled, whichever is greater.

Sell’s plea was part of a deal with Gogebic County Prosecutor Nick Jacobs that had a second felony — embezzlement by an agent or trustee of more than $1,000 and less than $20,000 — dropped.

The deal also included a cap of six months in jail, of which 80 percent can completed through community service.

If Sell took full advantage of the community service option, Circuit Judge Michael Pope said she would only serve up to 36 days in jail.

Sell told the court the crime took place May 28, 2015 when she took money from the safe of the First Merit Bank on Suffolk Street in Ironwood.

Sell said she took the money and had it deposited into her account and then used it to pay an Xcel Energy bill.

While Sell testified she only took $3,000, she agreed as part of the deal to pay back $5,830 the bank said she took.

She is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 2.