Eatonton bank tellers allegedly pocketed more than $1 million

Three tellers at the Peoples Bank have been implicated in alleged thefts at the downtown Eatonton branch believed to total more than $1 million, authorities said Wednesday.

Over the past several days, local and federal authorities have worked to crack the alleged theft cases at the bank's South Jefferson Avenue location.

The alleged thefts, in at least one instance, are said to date back six years -- though that theft is not thought to be connected to one involving a pair of tellers who turned themselves in to Eatonton police on Wednesday.

Those tellers -- Vicky Bond Martin, 57, of Buckhead, and Brandy Michelle Mize, 39, of Eatonton -- were charged with theft by taking.

According to their arrest warrants, the alleged thefts began in 2014 and lasted until one day last week.

Martin and Mize were being held Wednesday at the Putnam County jail in lieu of $35,000 bond.

(Update: Million-dollar secret: Cops mum on alleged big bank theft in Eatonton)

Their warrants do not elaborate on the alleged scheme and don't say how much they are accused of stealing, but officials estimated the amount at more than $1 million.

A third Peoples teller, arrested last week, was accused of taking $32,000 from the bank between 2008 and sometime this year, according to her arrest warrant. That teller, Jeanette M. Williams, was released on bond shortly after her arrest on a theft by taking charge.

In a news release announcing the arrests of Martin and Mize, the Eatonton police referred questions about the case to the FBI. The FBI, meanwhile, directed questions to Eatonton police.

To contact writer Joe Kovac Jr., call 744-4397.

This story was originally published March 23, 2016 at 7:15 PM with the headline "Eatonton bank tellers allegedly pocketed more than $1 million ."