A Long Beach woman faces a possible prison sentence Tuesday for helping her then-boyfriend stage a robbery at the bank where she worked.
Marlene Wickham, 22, pleaded guilty last year to federal counts of conspiracy and bank theft, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. She faces up to five years behind bars when she is sentenced by U.S. District Judge Fernando M. Olguin.
Wickham’s ex-boyfriend, Chandler Leniu, also 22 and a resident of Long Beach, pleaded guilty last month in Los Angeles federal court to conspiracy to commit bank theft and was ordered to return for sentencing on Oct. 24.
About $52,890 was stolen from Opus Bank in Torrance on Oct. 2, 2017.
Prosecutors said that $32,470 has been recovered and returned to the bank. According to his plea agreement, Leniu will pay restitution of about $20,000.
Leniu admitted that he passed a note to Wickham at her teller station demanding money and then fled with the cash. It was later determined that the teller was actually Leniu’s girlfriend.
Wickham’s defense attorney is asking for a non-custodial sentence.