Former Dickinson bank officer sobs while pleading guilty

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BISMARCK (AP) — A former trust officer at a Dickinson bank sobbed in court today as she pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud.

Betty Kolling was accused of plotting with her husband, Wally, to steal almost $750,000 from five clients at the Bank of the West in Dickinson.

Wally Kolling has already pleaded guilty, and the Kollings will be sentenced later.

Federal court documents say most of the money was funneled to Betty Kolling's sister and nephew.

Court records say Betty Kolling also conspired to take over one client's mineral interests in four western North Dakota counties. The client died broke.

Kolling has to repay almost $800,000. She told U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland she started stealing to help her family. She says her sister was caring for her ailing mother.

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