The Tired Embezzler

Lamar B. Hill, 49, onetime president of the First National Bank of Cartersville, Ga., is perhaps the nation's all-time champion embezzler. Over the course of 21 years, he stole $4,611,473,35. Since he was sentenced last week to only ten years, and will be eligible for parole in about three years, he does not feel too bad about his fate--indeed, he feels almost philosophical.

"I should have got caught a long time ago," said Hill. The reason he was not, he said, was that auditors never kept close check on him. "They come in the afternoon and stand around for 30 minutes. You give me 30 minutes and I can hide anything so that you'll never find it." The only reason he was ever caught at all, he says, was that he got tired. "Wouldn't you get tired after 21 years? I had too many figures in my head."

Aside from a few good works and a few bad investments, Hill has no idea where the money went. "I just don't know. I've sat down and tried to figure it out too. That's a hell of a lot of money." Indeed it is. Not only does the bank want its $4.7 million back, but the Internal Revenue Service claims $3.6 million as a tax on Hill's embezzlements. Hill is not downcast. Ever since last May, he has been supporting himself by operating a loan company.

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