Former Venice banker admits to embezzlement

A former bank employee in Venice has pleaded guilty to embezzlement and making a false statement to a federal agency. Jennifer Lamanna, 49, of Venice, faces up to 30 years in prison for embezzlement and up to five years for making a false statement.

Lamanna worked as a universal banker at a branch in Venice that was part of “Bank 1,” according to her plea agreement. “Bank 1” is a financial institution with branches in the Middle District of Florida and elsewhere, the deposits and accounts of which were insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Lamanna was employed by Bank 1 from May 2018 to February 2024, her plea agreement says. (Federal officials did not disclose the name of the bank.) 

From January 2020 to January 2024, Lamanna admits she embezzled more than $200,000 from the bank, according to the plea agreement.