BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) A former bookkeeper and chief financial officer of a mortgage company in Billings has pleaded guilty to bank fraud.

Thirty-five-year-old Angela Hakala also faced two counts of mail fraud, but those charges are expected to be dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

She was accused of falsely telling a First Citizens Bank accountant from March 2004 through October 2006 that Intermountain Mortgage expected to receive money from mortgage sales that had already been paid. The bank provided a $19.5 million line of credit to Intermountain to finance mortgages.

Hakala said she was trying to save the failing company.

Information from: Billings Gazette, http://www.billingsgazette.com (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 11-15-08 0457CST | save this article / add to your favorites list