Key Bank was one of the banks victimized by a Juneau man who pleaded guilty Thursday to federal theft charges after stealing nearly $580,000 from multiple banks and credit unions between 2019 and 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Key Bank was one of the banks victimized by a Juneau man who pleaded guilty Thursday to federal theft charges after stealing nearly $580,000 from multiple banks and credit unions between 2019 and 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Juneau man pleads guilty to nearly $580,000 bank fraud

He faces up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine.

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.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

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.

Previous
Optimism of Southeast Alaska businesses hits 14-year high
Next
Alaska to stay with voter fraud prevention network as other Republican states drop out

More in News

A building directory in Juneau’s federal building lists departments, such as the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Forest Service, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
NOAA lease, Goldbelt contract among Juneau cuts at DOGE’s website

Trump administration also lists — then withdraws — Ketchikan Federal Building and other sites for possible sale.

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of Feb. 15

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

A sign in Whitehorse shows Juneau as one of three sister cities on March 4, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Ensio Lera)
Juneau and Whitehorse seek to continue sibling ties amidst trade war

Mayor hopes to preserve decades of friendship with sister city during ‘time of political uncertainty.’

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), back right, and Vice President JD Vance clap for President Donald Trump as he delivers an address to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times)
Trump asserts term off to ‘swift and unrelenting’ start in speech to Congress

President Donald Trump faced heckling from Democrats on Tuesday as he declared… Continue reading

A road north of Juneau would have to negotiate the steep terrain of the east side of Lynn Canal, pictured here in February of 2014. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file pohoto)
Juneau Access Road is on the map again, as DOT seeks bids for Lynn Canal transportation study

Project declared dead by Gov. Walker in 2017 to get another look, along with ferry options.

Terry Allen rides his jet ski at Auke Lake on Monday, Aug. 19, 2019. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Proposal for commercial Jet Ski tours originating downtown sinks before harbor board

Operator says he will seek different site after officials say he implied support that doesn’t exist.

Water spills into homes and streets in the Mendenhall Valley following record flooding from the Mendenhall River on the morning of Aug. 6, 2024. (Photo by Rich Ross)
Site assessments begin in neighborhoods where flood barriers will be installed

HESCO barriers are on their way to Juneau. Funding to study a long-term solution is not guaranteed.

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo A 1928 Kimball Theatre Pipe Organ in the atrium of the State Office Building is played by Christopher Nordwall on May 30, 2023, as he and Michael Ruppert work on restoring it to a condition suitable for public performances. The two tuners were only able to work on the organ during hours when the building was officially closed.
Here’s what’s happening for First Friday in March

Performance and presentation on historic SOB organ, community exhibit at city museum among events.

Trucks coming from Mexico at a border crossing in Laredo, Texas, in February. (Gabriel V. Cárdenas for The New York Times)
From groceries to cars, here’s how Trump’s tariffs may raise prices for US consumers

New tariffs on goods from Canada, Mexico and China took effect Tuesday.

Most Read