Roxanna Foley, 53, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller to 30 months in prison for embezzlement by a bank employee and ordered to pay $315,000 in restitution, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.
Foley worked at Eastern Sierra Community Bank (ECSB) in Bridgeport. According to the plea agreement, starting in November 2011, bank officials noticed discrepancies with the Bridgeport branch of ESCB. On March 19, 2012, managers from the bank made an unannounced visit to Foley’s branch to investigate a suspicious $90,000 transaction. After a review of the local bank’s records, officials identified $90,000 in misplaced funds, as well as $6,000 missing from Foley’s teller drawer.
During the surprise inspection, Foley admitted to taking over $300,000 from the bank. A later review of the ECSB’s accounts uncovered $322,000 in missing funds, as well as multiple electronic transactions moving money between accounts made by Foley. Official also learned that Foley had been circumventing normal banking procedures at ECSB, including single-handedly taking over all counting and auditing of ECSB accounts when dual-counting procedures were required.
At sentencing, Judge Mueller found that the loss in this case was “significant,” and that Foley “succumbed to the temptation” of having access to such funds. In sentencing Foley, Judge Mueller sought to punish Foley for her conduct and stated that a “period of time in a federal facility will serve as a deterrent” to Foley and others.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Mono County District Attorney’s Office, the Mono County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle Reardon prosecuted the case.
Showing posts with label California. Show all posts
Showing posts with label California. Show all posts
Friday, September 26, 2014
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Manager who wore fake bomb to pull off bank heist gets 9 years in California
A woman who conspired with her boyfriend in 2012 to steal $565,500 from the East L.A. bank where she worked by strapping a fake bomb to herself to simulate a kidnapping was sentenced Wednesday to nine years in federal prison, federal prosecutors said.
Aurora Barrera, 33, and the ex-boyfriend, 36-year-old Reyes "Ray" Vega, were found guilty of multiple bank robbery offenses in March after a weeklong trial. The jury found the couple guilty of conspiracy to commit bank robbery and bank robbery.
The jury also found that Vega and Barrera committed the robbery by assaulting a bank employee with a dangerous weapon -- the fake explosive.
Vega orchestrated a plan in which Barrera pretended to be kidnapped and forced to rob the Bank of America branch where she worked in September 2012.
As she acted in fear that the fake bomb might explode, Barrera took money from a safe and dumped it outside, where it was picked up by an accomplice, Richard Menchaca. Another accomplice, Bryan Perez, then took the cash, which was split among them at a hotel later that day, according to authorities.
After the heist, a Los Angeles County sheriff's bomb robot was used to pry the fake device off of Berrera.
Later, however, investigators determined she knew her supposed kidnappers and the group was eventually arrested.
Menchaca and Perez pleaded guilty and testified at the trial of Vega and Barrera.
Menchaca was sentenced Monday to five years of probation with 1,500 hours of custody time served on weekends. Perez is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 18.with 1,500 hours of custody time served on weekends.
The group has also been ordered to pay joint restitution in the amount of $557,300.
Aurora Barrera, 33, and the ex-boyfriend, 36-year-old Reyes "Ray" Vega, were found guilty of multiple bank robbery offenses in March after a weeklong trial. The jury found the couple guilty of conspiracy to commit bank robbery and bank robbery.
The jury also found that Vega and Barrera committed the robbery by assaulting a bank employee with a dangerous weapon -- the fake explosive.
Vega orchestrated a plan in which Barrera pretended to be kidnapped and forced to rob the Bank of America branch where she worked in September 2012.
As she acted in fear that the fake bomb might explode, Barrera took money from a safe and dumped it outside, where it was picked up by an accomplice, Richard Menchaca. Another accomplice, Bryan Perez, then took the cash, which was split among them at a hotel later that day, according to authorities.
After the heist, a Los Angeles County sheriff's bomb robot was used to pry the fake device off of Berrera.
Later, however, investigators determined she knew her supposed kidnappers and the group was eventually arrested.
Menchaca and Perez pleaded guilty and testified at the trial of Vega and Barrera.
Menchaca was sentenced Monday to five years of probation with 1,500 hours of custody time served on weekends. Perez is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 18.with 1,500 hours of custody time served on weekends.
The group has also been ordered to pay joint restitution in the amount of $557,300.
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Auburn, California Bank Employee Arrested In Embezzlement Case
A 34-year-old Northern California man has been arrested for investigation of embezzlement from the bank where he worked.
The Sacramento Bee reports Friday that Jesus Valenzuela was booked into Placer County jail on Thursday. Police say they received a report from Tri Counties Bank in Auburn last month claiming Valenzuela had stolen about $8,000 from the bank over a six-month period.
Police say they eventually contacted Valenzuela and allegedly obtained a confession.
The Sacramento Bee reports Friday that Jesus Valenzuela was booked into Placer County jail on Thursday. Police say they received a report from Tri Counties Bank in Auburn last month claiming Valenzuela had stolen about $8,000 from the bank over a six-month period.
Police say they eventually contacted Valenzuela and allegedly obtained a confession.
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Buhach football coach guilty of bank embezzlement begins sentence in California
An assistant high school football coach and former loan officer this week began his 10-month sentence after pleading guilty to felony charges of grand theft by embezzlement.
Sammy C. Parker, 64, a well-known assistant football coach at Buhach Colony High School in Atwater, surrendered Tuesday at the Merced County jail. He was ordered to serve 10 months behind bars, but his jail time was converted to electronic monitoring, the Merced County District Attorney’s Office said.
Parker’s convictions stem from his career as a loan officer.
Judge Ronald W. Hansen approved the 10-month sentence, which also includes three years of probation and an order to repay all of the victims in the case, according to Merced Superior Court records.
Parker is allowed to leave his home for limited activities only, such as going to work or doctor’s appointments, according to Deputy District Attorney Walter Wall, the prosecutor in the case.
He pleaded guilty Nov. 19, 2013, to two felony counts of grand theft by embezzlement in connection with the theft of more than $13,000 from 36 victims between at least from August 2011 to January 2013 during his time as loan officer at International City Mortgage and the Mason-McDuffie Mortgage Corp. in Merced.
Parker said when reached at home Tuesday that he feels “really remorseful.”
“It was not my intention to hurt people, but unfortunately I did,” Parker said. “I’m just trying to square what I did with the people who were hurt.”
Wall said Parker will repay the victims all of what was stolen by June 24.
“He’s already repaid more than half of the restitution,” Wall said.
In exchange for Parker’s plea, prosecutors dismissed 25 additional charges, according to court records.
“With the payment of restitution and the felony convictions, I feel that justice was served in this case,” Wall said.
According to reports filed by District Attorney Investigator Anna Hazel, Parker claimed he took the money because his family was struggling financially, and felt International City Mortgage was not paying him fairly and believed they owed him the money.
Investigators said Parker asked borrowers to write $400 checks for “appraisal fees,” telling clients to leave the “payee” portion of the check blank. He promised to fill out the name himself once an appraisal company was selected, but instead put his own name on the checks and deposited them.
International City Mortgage fired Parker Jan. 24, 2013, and contacted the District Attorney’s Office, the report says.
Parker was arrested Aug. 5.
Aside from his loan officer career, Parker has been an assistant football coach at Buhach Colony High School for the past six years. Before his stint in Atwater, Parker was an assistant coach at Golden Valley High School for several years.
Parker said he plans on returning to the sidelines next season. “I hope so, at least that’s been the plan with this whole thing,” Parker said.
Head coach Kevin Navarra did not return a phone call seeking comment.
Parker said he wants to focus on “setting things right” by repaying the victims.
“Life is about making choices,” Parker said. “Unfortunately, that was a very bad choice on my part and I’m very remorseful for what took place.”
Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2014/06/18/6494705/buhach-football-coach-guilty-of.html#storylink=cpy
Sammy C. Parker, 64, a well-known assistant football coach at Buhach Colony High School in Atwater, surrendered Tuesday at the Merced County jail. He was ordered to serve 10 months behind bars, but his jail time was converted to electronic monitoring, the Merced County District Attorney’s Office said.
Parker’s convictions stem from his career as a loan officer.
Judge Ronald W. Hansen approved the 10-month sentence, which also includes three years of probation and an order to repay all of the victims in the case, according to Merced Superior Court records.
Parker is allowed to leave his home for limited activities only, such as going to work or doctor’s appointments, according to Deputy District Attorney Walter Wall, the prosecutor in the case.
He pleaded guilty Nov. 19, 2013, to two felony counts of grand theft by embezzlement in connection with the theft of more than $13,000 from 36 victims between at least from August 2011 to January 2013 during his time as loan officer at International City Mortgage and the Mason-McDuffie Mortgage Corp. in Merced.
Parker said when reached at home Tuesday that he feels “really remorseful.”
“It was not my intention to hurt people, but unfortunately I did,” Parker said. “I’m just trying to square what I did with the people who were hurt.”
Wall said Parker will repay the victims all of what was stolen by June 24.
“He’s already repaid more than half of the restitution,” Wall said.
In exchange for Parker’s plea, prosecutors dismissed 25 additional charges, according to court records.
“With the payment of restitution and the felony convictions, I feel that justice was served in this case,” Wall said.
According to reports filed by District Attorney Investigator Anna Hazel, Parker claimed he took the money because his family was struggling financially, and felt International City Mortgage was not paying him fairly and believed they owed him the money.
Investigators said Parker asked borrowers to write $400 checks for “appraisal fees,” telling clients to leave the “payee” portion of the check blank. He promised to fill out the name himself once an appraisal company was selected, but instead put his own name on the checks and deposited them.
International City Mortgage fired Parker Jan. 24, 2013, and contacted the District Attorney’s Office, the report says.
Parker was arrested Aug. 5.
Aside from his loan officer career, Parker has been an assistant football coach at Buhach Colony High School for the past six years. Before his stint in Atwater, Parker was an assistant coach at Golden Valley High School for several years.
Parker said he plans on returning to the sidelines next season. “I hope so, at least that’s been the plan with this whole thing,” Parker said.
Head coach Kevin Navarra did not return a phone call seeking comment.
Parker said he wants to focus on “setting things right” by repaying the victims.
“Life is about making choices,” Parker said. “Unfortunately, that was a very bad choice on my part and I’m very remorseful for what took place.”
Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2014/06/18/6494705/buhach-football-coach-guilty-of.html#storylink=cpy
Saturday, July 19, 2014
Bank in Hot Water for Allegedly Taking Part in Embezzling Scheme
A California bank is in hot water for allegedly taking part in an embezzlement scheme.
The First California Bank handled accounts of Kinde Durkee, a former campaign treasurer for several high-profile Democratic politicians.
Authorities say Durkee had been at the center of an elaborate shell game, regularly shifting money between her clients' accounts while pocketing a few million dollars.
Durkee pleaded guilty to five counts of mail fraud last year and was sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison.
Officially, the bank acknowledges no wrongdoing, while agreeing to the settlement.
According to reports, that settlement is $4 million with $2 million going to the campaign account of U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein.
A California bank that handled the accounts of a former campaign treasurer for several high-profile Democratic politicians has agreed to pay $4 million to settle a lawsuit alleging the bank should have known the treasurer was embezzling money, attorneys for the politicians and the bank said Thursday.
The agreement reached with First California Bank includes $2 million for the campaign account of U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein. She estimated that she had lost $4.5 million when it was revealed that her longtime treasurer, Kinde Durkee, had been carrying on an elaborate shell game in which she regularly shifted money between her clients’ accounts while she siphoned off millions of dollars.
Durkee pleaded guilty to five counts of mail fraud last year and was sentenced to more than eight years in prison. She was ordered to pay $10.5 million in restitution, even though she had few assets.
Feinstein and several other lawmakers and political committees sued First California Bank, alleging there was a “pervasive pattern of misconduct” and that the bank was at the heart of Durkee’s illegal transfers.
Joe Cotchett, who represented Feinstein, said the attorneys had evidence that bank employees knew about the fraud based on emails and other correspondence they were able to obtain.
“We finally got the hard drive from the FBI. We were able to look at that and get emails that certainly tracked the allegations we made,” he said.
Thomas Nolan, an attorney who represented First California Bank, said the bank does not acknowledge any wrongdoing but said it agreed to the settlement to avoid a costly and time-consuming lawsuit.
“The bank certainly does not admit that they were culpable, engaged in any wrongdoing, or had any knowledge of fraudulent wrongdoing,” he said in an interview.
The settlement has not yet been filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court but was presented to a judge this week, the attorney said.
Attorney Wylie Aitken, who represented clients that include Rep. Susan Davis, D-San Diego, and Reps. Linda and Loretta Sanchez, who are sisters, said bank officials overlooked several red flags because they didn’t want to lose Durkee’s business. That included illegal transfers between federal and state campaign accounts.
“She was one of their personal customers; they were giving her favors for being one of their better depositors of monies,” he said.
Aitken said the bank continued to pay funds even when Durkee’s checks bounced.
The $4 million settlement is being distributed to candidates based on their losses. Other recipients include campaign committees for:
• State Sen. Lou Correa, $378,000.
• Former state Assemblyman Jose Solorio, who is running for state Senate, $330,000.
• Rep. Loretta Sanchez, $175,000.
• Rep. Linda Sanchez, $150,000.
• National Popular Vote, $600,000.
The First California Bank handled accounts of Kinde Durkee, a former campaign treasurer for several high-profile Democratic politicians.
Authorities say Durkee had been at the center of an elaborate shell game, regularly shifting money between her clients' accounts while pocketing a few million dollars.
Durkee pleaded guilty to five counts of mail fraud last year and was sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison.
Officially, the bank acknowledges no wrongdoing, while agreeing to the settlement.
According to reports, that settlement is $4 million with $2 million going to the campaign account of U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein.
A California bank that handled the accounts of a former campaign treasurer for several high-profile Democratic politicians has agreed to pay $4 million to settle a lawsuit alleging the bank should have known the treasurer was embezzling money, attorneys for the politicians and the bank said Thursday.
The agreement reached with First California Bank includes $2 million for the campaign account of U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein. She estimated that she had lost $4.5 million when it was revealed that her longtime treasurer, Kinde Durkee, had been carrying on an elaborate shell game in which she regularly shifted money between her clients’ accounts while she siphoned off millions of dollars.
Durkee pleaded guilty to five counts of mail fraud last year and was sentenced to more than eight years in prison. She was ordered to pay $10.5 million in restitution, even though she had few assets.
Feinstein and several other lawmakers and political committees sued First California Bank, alleging there was a “pervasive pattern of misconduct” and that the bank was at the heart of Durkee’s illegal transfers.
Joe Cotchett, who represented Feinstein, said the attorneys had evidence that bank employees knew about the fraud based on emails and other correspondence they were able to obtain.
“We finally got the hard drive from the FBI. We were able to look at that and get emails that certainly tracked the allegations we made,” he said.
Thomas Nolan, an attorney who represented First California Bank, said the bank does not acknowledge any wrongdoing but said it agreed to the settlement to avoid a costly and time-consuming lawsuit.
“The bank certainly does not admit that they were culpable, engaged in any wrongdoing, or had any knowledge of fraudulent wrongdoing,” he said in an interview.
The settlement has not yet been filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court but was presented to a judge this week, the attorney said.
Attorney Wylie Aitken, who represented clients that include Rep. Susan Davis, D-San Diego, and Reps. Linda and Loretta Sanchez, who are sisters, said bank officials overlooked several red flags because they didn’t want to lose Durkee’s business. That included illegal transfers between federal and state campaign accounts.
“She was one of their personal customers; they were giving her favors for being one of their better depositors of monies,” he said.
Aitken said the bank continued to pay funds even when Durkee’s checks bounced.
The $4 million settlement is being distributed to candidates based on their losses. Other recipients include campaign committees for:
• State Sen. Lou Correa, $378,000.
• Former state Assemblyman Jose Solorio, who is running for state Senate, $330,000.
• Rep. Loretta Sanchez, $175,000.
• Rep. Linda Sanchez, $150,000.
• National Popular Vote, $600,000.
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Huge embezzlement investigated at Fresno bank
More than $800,000 is missing from a Fresno bank and the branch manager has disappeared.
The FBI is now investigating the case and they're not commenting on it, but Action News uncovered a search warrant. It shows the money disappeared in the month after the assistant manager went on maternity leave and the manager was suddenly in control of the vault.
Security guards stationed at this southeast Fresno Bank of America branch keep an eye out for trouble outside, but police are discovering big problems on the inside .A search warrant filed by Fresno police shows massive amounts of cash missing from the bank's vault and from individual tellers' carts.
Employees pointed the finger at the manager Sylvia Ochoa. The warrant reveals she was frequently in the bank after hours and video showed her exiting the vault while it was closed.
Defense attorney Ralph Torres says Ochoa may be facing serious trouble.
"We're talking about a lot of cash and I would expect because of the cash, you're looking at the federal government getting involved," he said.
Police served the warrant at the house Ochoa rented in northwest Fresno -- seizing weapons and high-end electronics, as well as some cash. But Ochoa wasn't there, and the house is now empty.
Neighbors say she packed up and left that same month. In the warrant, police said Ochoa made some admissions that wrongdoing had occurred, but that was before she disappeared.
Torres says her departure may create even bigger problems.
"If you leave knowing that you're being investigated, they could use that against you in a court of law, absolutely," he said.
A Bank of America spokeswoman told Action News she couldn't discuss many details of the incident, but told us "Bank of America holds its employees to the highest standards of integrity, so this situation is quite disheartening."
She also told us no customers' accounts were impacted by the theft, and confirmed the suspect is no longer employed at the bank.
Ochoa could face charges of grand theft, embezzlement, and even burglary
The FBI is now investigating the case and they're not commenting on it, but Action News uncovered a search warrant. It shows the money disappeared in the month after the assistant manager went on maternity leave and the manager was suddenly in control of the vault.
Security guards stationed at this southeast Fresno Bank of America branch keep an eye out for trouble outside, but police are discovering big problems on the inside .A search warrant filed by Fresno police shows massive amounts of cash missing from the bank's vault and from individual tellers' carts.
Employees pointed the finger at the manager Sylvia Ochoa. The warrant reveals she was frequently in the bank after hours and video showed her exiting the vault while it was closed.
Defense attorney Ralph Torres says Ochoa may be facing serious trouble.
"We're talking about a lot of cash and I would expect because of the cash, you're looking at the federal government getting involved," he said.
Police served the warrant at the house Ochoa rented in northwest Fresno -- seizing weapons and high-end electronics, as well as some cash. But Ochoa wasn't there, and the house is now empty.
Neighbors say she packed up and left that same month. In the warrant, police said Ochoa made some admissions that wrongdoing had occurred, but that was before she disappeared.
Torres says her departure may create even bigger problems.
"If you leave knowing that you're being investigated, they could use that against you in a court of law, absolutely," he said.
A Bank of America spokeswoman told Action News she couldn't discuss many details of the incident, but told us "Bank of America holds its employees to the highest standards of integrity, so this situation is quite disheartening."
She also told us no customers' accounts were impacted by the theft, and confirmed the suspect is no longer employed at the bank.
Ochoa could face charges of grand theft, embezzlement, and even burglary
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Former bank supervisor arrested on suspicion of embezzlement in California
A former Wells Fargo Bank supervisor in Visalia was arrested Saturday after police investigators completed a year-long investigation regarding possible embezzlement at the bank.
Kathleen Welte, 54, who worked at the West Main Street Wells Fargo, was arrested on suspicion of embezzling close to $400,000 over a period of at least two years, Sgt. Ozzie Dominguez said.
Wells Fargo officials requested an investigation in October 2012. Welte’s employment at the bank ended at roughly the same time the investigation began, Dominguez said.
After about a year of investigating, detectives filed the case with the District Attorney’s Office last week, and a warrant was issued for her arrest.
Welte was arrested Saturday and booked at the Bob Wiley Detention Center, but has since posted $50,000 in bail.
Kathleen Welte, 54, who worked at the West Main Street Wells Fargo, was arrested on suspicion of embezzling close to $400,000 over a period of at least two years, Sgt. Ozzie Dominguez said.
Wells Fargo officials requested an investigation in October 2012. Welte’s employment at the bank ended at roughly the same time the investigation began, Dominguez said.
After about a year of investigating, detectives filed the case with the District Attorney’s Office last week, and a warrant was issued for her arrest.
Welte was arrested Saturday and booked at the Bob Wiley Detention Center, but has since posted $50,000 in bail.
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Cameron Park, California Man Admits Embezzling $660,000 from a Federally Insured Bank
Ethan George Banaszak, 35, of Cameron Park pleaded guilty on Friday to one count of bank embezzlement, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.According to court documents, Banaszak embezzled thousands of dollars from his employer, a federally insured bank. According to court records, Banaszak made more than $660,000 in unauthorized withdrawals from bank customers’ accounts and took $16,000 cash from the bank’s vault.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Lee S. Bickley is prosecuting the case.
Banaszak is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Garland E. Burrell on January 24, 2014. Banaszak faces a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Lee S. Bickley is prosecuting the case.
Banaszak is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Garland E. Burrell on January 24, 2014. Banaszak faces a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable
Saturday, November 9, 2013
BRIDGEPORT, CALIFORNIA BANK MANAGER PLEADS TO EMBEZZLEMENT
On October 9, 2013, Roxanna Foley, 52, of Bridgeport, pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement by a bank employee, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.
According to court documents, Foley worked at Eastern Sierra Community Bank (ECSB). Starting in November 2011, bank officials noticed discrepancies with the Bridgeport branch of ESCB. On March 19, 2012, managers from the bank made an unannounced visit to that branch to investigate a suspicious $90,000 transaction. After a review of the bank’s records, officials identified $90,000 in misplaced funds, as well as $6,000 missing from Foley’s teller drawer.
During the surprise inspection, Foley admitted to taking $6,000 from her cash drawer, as well as an additional $312,000 from the bank. A later review of the Bishop ECSB’s accounts uncovered $322,000 in missing funds, as well as multiple electronic “covering transactions” – that is, transactions moving money between accounts – made by Foley. Officials also learned that Foley had also been circumventing normal banking procedures at ECSB, including single-handedly taking over all counting and auditing of ECSB accounts when dual-counting procedures were required.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Mono County Sheriff’s Department, the Mono County District Attorney’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle Reardon is prosecuting the case.
Foley is scheduled to be sentenced by Unites States District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller on January 29, 2104, at 9:00 a.m. She faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine, and a five-year term of supervised release. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
According to court documents, Foley worked at Eastern Sierra Community Bank (ECSB). Starting in November 2011, bank officials noticed discrepancies with the Bridgeport branch of ESCB. On March 19, 2012, managers from the bank made an unannounced visit to that branch to investigate a suspicious $90,000 transaction. After a review of the bank’s records, officials identified $90,000 in misplaced funds, as well as $6,000 missing from Foley’s teller drawer.
During the surprise inspection, Foley admitted to taking $6,000 from her cash drawer, as well as an additional $312,000 from the bank. A later review of the Bishop ECSB’s accounts uncovered $322,000 in missing funds, as well as multiple electronic “covering transactions” – that is, transactions moving money between accounts – made by Foley. Officials also learned that Foley had also been circumventing normal banking procedures at ECSB, including single-handedly taking over all counting and auditing of ECSB accounts when dual-counting procedures were required.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Mono County Sheriff’s Department, the Mono County District Attorney’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle Reardon is prosecuting the case.
Foley is scheduled to be sentenced by Unites States District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller on January 29, 2104, at 9:00 a.m. She faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine, and a five-year term of supervised release. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Cameron Park, California man pleads guilty to bank embezzlement
A Cameron Park man today pleaded guilty in federal court in Sacramento to one count of bank embezzlement.
Ethan George Banaszak, 35, embezzled thousands of dollars from his employer, a federally insured bank, according to a federal Department of Justice news release.
Court documents show that Banaszak made more than $660,000 in unauthorized withdrawals from bank customers' accounts and took $16,000 in cash from the bank's vault.
He is to be sentenced Jan. 23 by U.S. District Judge Garland E. Burrell.
The case resulted from an FBI investigation.
When he’s sentenced in January, he faces a possible maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine.
Monday, August 19, 2013
Former loan manager arrested on felony racketeering charge in California
A former manager of Noble Finance was arrested on several felony charges Thursday. Police say Jennifer Echavarria, 26, of Carlsbad, is suspected of pocketing money deposited by as many as 35 customers of Noble Finance, where she worked as the loan manager.
Echavarria was arrested Thursday night at her home on one count of felony racketeering, 20 counts of forgery, five counts of fraud and 30 counts of embezzlement. Echavarria has been remanded to the Eddy County Detention Center with bond set at $50,000.
Carlsbad Police Department began an investigation in July in response to accusations of fraud and embezzlement after an internal audit revealed discrepancies in customer accounts.
According to the police department, 35 victims have been identified and investigators expect more to come forward.
Echavarria is suspected of pocketing cash deposits and generating unauthorized loans in customers' names during the months of June and July. It is believed she embezzled more than $7,000 of customer funds, and she issued them hand-written receipts.
Echavarria did not offer a statement to Carlsbad police detectives after her arrest. She is being represented by the Boyea Law Firm.
Anyone who believes they may have been a victim should contact Crime Stoppers of Eddy County
Echavarria was arrested Thursday night at her home on one count of felony racketeering, 20 counts of forgery, five counts of fraud and 30 counts of embezzlement. Echavarria has been remanded to the Eddy County Detention Center with bond set at $50,000.
Carlsbad Police Department began an investigation in July in response to accusations of fraud and embezzlement after an internal audit revealed discrepancies in customer accounts.
According to the police department, 35 victims have been identified and investigators expect more to come forward.
Echavarria is suspected of pocketing cash deposits and generating unauthorized loans in customers' names during the months of June and July. It is believed she embezzled more than $7,000 of customer funds, and she issued them hand-written receipts.
Echavarria did not offer a statement to Carlsbad police detectives after her arrest. She is being represented by the Boyea Law Firm.
Anyone who believes they may have been a victim should contact Crime Stoppers of Eddy County
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Springfield, Missouri Woman Among 12 Indicted for $650,000 Embezzlement
A UMB Bank employee along with 11 friends and family members has been indicted by a federal grand jury for embezzling more than $650,000 in a bank fraud conspiracy.
Lisa L. Taylor, 53, Kara L. Williams, 32, Shameeka N. Whitehead, 30, Rodney C. Austin, 48, Johnnie L. Coleman, 51, Roshana A. Franklin, 21, Antonio O. Malone, 25, and Ralph Broadus, 58, all of Kansas City, Mo., William D. Moore, 23, of Grandview, Mo., Stephen A. Combs, 26, and Geoffrey N. King, 29, both of Olathe, Kan., and Lakisha S. Weathers, 28, of Springfield, Mo., were charged in a 44-count indictment that was returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on June 20, 2013.
That indictment was unsealed and made public upon the arrests and initial court appearances of several defendants on Monday, July 8, 2013.
The federal indictment alleges that Taylor, who was employed by UMB Bank from May 2006 until October 2010, used her position to generate 377 fraudulent bank checks totaling $650,659, payable to her co-defendants and others in a fraud scheme that lasted virtually the entire time she worked at the bank.
According to the indictment, Taylor was employed at UMB as a closing account specialist. Taylor's duties included collecting amounts that were charged off when a customer's account was closed. Occasionally a closed account would receive a deposit via an automatic deposit or otherwise, after it had been closed. Taylor's job duties required her to request a bank check to refund any deposit amount in excess of any charged off amount in the closed account. Taylor was required to submit this request for approval of a bank check to a bank officer, who would approve issuance of a bank check for the refund amount which would then be mailed to the customer's last known address.
Taylor allegedly used her position at the bank to generate fraudulent UMB checks made payable to her friends, family members and others, including her codefendants. She submitted false and fraudulent requests for approval of the bank checks to UMB bank officers, the indictment says. Conspirators allegedly kept a portion of the funds from the UMB bank checks and returned a portion of the funds to Taylor, Williams, Whitehead or others.
Each of the 12 defendants is charged with participating in a bank fraud conspiracy from May 2006 until October 2010. Various defendants are also charged in 43 additional counts of bank fraud related to cashing fraudulent checks.
Dickinson cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jess E. Michaelsen. It was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service.
Lisa L. Taylor, 53, Kara L. Williams, 32, Shameeka N. Whitehead, 30, Rodney C. Austin, 48, Johnnie L. Coleman, 51, Roshana A. Franklin, 21, Antonio O. Malone, 25, and Ralph Broadus, 58, all of Kansas City, Mo., William D. Moore, 23, of Grandview, Mo., Stephen A. Combs, 26, and Geoffrey N. King, 29, both of Olathe, Kan., and Lakisha S. Weathers, 28, of Springfield, Mo., were charged in a 44-count indictment that was returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on June 20, 2013.
That indictment was unsealed and made public upon the arrests and initial court appearances of several defendants on Monday, July 8, 2013.
The federal indictment alleges that Taylor, who was employed by UMB Bank from May 2006 until October 2010, used her position to generate 377 fraudulent bank checks totaling $650,659, payable to her co-defendants and others in a fraud scheme that lasted virtually the entire time she worked at the bank.
According to the indictment, Taylor was employed at UMB as a closing account specialist. Taylor's duties included collecting amounts that were charged off when a customer's account was closed. Occasionally a closed account would receive a deposit via an automatic deposit or otherwise, after it had been closed. Taylor's job duties required her to request a bank check to refund any deposit amount in excess of any charged off amount in the closed account. Taylor was required to submit this request for approval of a bank check to a bank officer, who would approve issuance of a bank check for the refund amount which would then be mailed to the customer's last known address.
Taylor allegedly used her position at the bank to generate fraudulent UMB checks made payable to her friends, family members and others, including her codefendants. She submitted false and fraudulent requests for approval of the bank checks to UMB bank officers, the indictment says. Conspirators allegedly kept a portion of the funds from the UMB bank checks and returned a portion of the funds to Taylor, Williams, Whitehead or others.
Each of the 12 defendants is charged with participating in a bank fraud conspiracy from May 2006 until October 2010. Various defendants are also charged in 43 additional counts of bank fraud related to cashing fraudulent checks.
Dickinson cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jess E. Michaelsen. It was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service.
Friday, June 14, 2013
Once-trusted bank worker sent to prison in California
Mary Helen Perez, 50, of Sanger, has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Lawrence O’Neill to two years and three months in prison for stealing and embezzling from a federally insured bank, says U.S. Attorney Benjamin Wagner.
Ms. Perez was also ordered to pay $249,793 in restitution to the bank.
According to court documents, Ms. Perez was the assistant customer service manager at Westamerica Bank in Sanger, where she had worked for 29 years.
Over a four-year period, she made approximately 78 cash withdrawals from seven customers’ bank accounts without their knowledge or authorization, targeting customers she believed trusted her, court records show.
She withdrew funds from their bank accounts by filling out withdrawal slips and forging their signatures or writing an “X” on the signature line. Ms. Perez spent the overwhelming majority of the embezzled funds at casinos and for other personal expenses.
The trusted, veteran, bank worker took several steps to hide her embezzlement from the bank and her victims, including telling some of the customers who questioned her about the unauthorized withdrawals that there would be fees charged for investigating the account discrepancies. Ms. Perez also sought to conceal her embezzlement by putting some of the victims’ bank statements on hold status so she would receive them at the bank, where she destroyed them.
Ms. Perez was also ordered to pay $249,793 in restitution to the bank.
According to court documents, Ms. Perez was the assistant customer service manager at Westamerica Bank in Sanger, where she had worked for 29 years.
Over a four-year period, she made approximately 78 cash withdrawals from seven customers’ bank accounts without their knowledge or authorization, targeting customers she believed trusted her, court records show.
She withdrew funds from their bank accounts by filling out withdrawal slips and forging their signatures or writing an “X” on the signature line. Ms. Perez spent the overwhelming majority of the embezzled funds at casinos and for other personal expenses.
The trusted, veteran, bank worker took several steps to hide her embezzlement from the bank and her victims, including telling some of the customers who questioned her about the unauthorized withdrawals that there would be fees charged for investigating the account discrepancies. Ms. Perez also sought to conceal her embezzlement by putting some of the victims’ bank statements on hold status so she would receive them at the bank, where she destroyed them.
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Murrieta, California man arrested in alleged embezzlement case
Temecula police detectives arrested a bank employee Thursday afternoon in Vista on suspicion of bilking an 88-year-old woman out of a large amount of money while he worked in Temecula, officials stated in a release.
Authorities identified the suspect as Don Leon Foster, 35, of Murrieta. He was booked at Southwest Detention Center in French Valley on suspicion of embezzling from an elder and was being held there Friday with bail set at $183,000, according to jail records.
The arrest stemmed from an investigation into potential embezzlement at a bank branch in Temecula, Sgt. Kevin McDonald stated in a release. Officers arrested Foster at 4:30 p.m. at his current workplace in Vista and later searched his residence on Mapleton Avenue in Murrieta, the release states.
Friday, April 26, 2013
Bridgeport, California bank manager arraigned for embezzlement
Roxanna Foley, 52, of Bridgeport, was arraigned today in federal court in Sacramento.
She was indicted on April 18 by a federal grand jury on charges of theft and “embezzlement by a bank employee,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The indictment alleges that Foley embezzled approximately $320,000 from Eastern Sierra Community Bank over a four-month period.
She was employed at the bank as a manager.
She was indicted on April 18 by a federal grand jury on charges of theft and “embezzlement by a bank employee,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The indictment alleges that Foley embezzled approximately $320,000 from Eastern Sierra Community Bank over a four-month period.
She was employed at the bank as a manager.
Chula Vista, California Banker at Wells Fargo Branch Charged With Defrauding Bank and Customers
A Chula Vista banker was charged with defrauding Wells Fargo and several of its customers by stealing and laundering about $775,000 from Wells Fargo customer accounts, according to a federal indictment unsealed Thursday.
Ricardo Adolfo Benavente III faces 80 felony counts, including bank fraud, embezzlement and aggravated identity theft. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment today.
According to the indictment, Benavente, a banker at a Wells Fargo branch office in Chula Vista, used his access privileges at the bank to move hundreds of thousands of dollars from the accounts of Wells Fargo customers into accounts he controlled.
The indictment further alleges that in many instances Benavente laundered the stolen funds in order to disguise the fact that he had stolen them.
Between April and October of 2009, Benavente stole the funds from the accounts of four Wells Fargo customers, according to the indictment.
Benavente, 27, allegedly funneled the stolen funds through various Wells Fargo accounts that he created and controlled, and which he had opened in the name of fictitious customers expressly for the purpose of conducting a scheme to defraud.
In one case, Benavente allegedly funneled stolen funds through a PayPal account that he had set up in the name of one of his victims, in order to disguise the fact that the money had been stolen.
Benavente then used the PayPal account to direct the funds to his own bank, the indictment states.
The indictment alleges that in furtherance of the fraud scheme, Benavente stole and used the names and account numbers of his various victims in order to create the appearance that the transactions were being conducted by the customers themselves.
Benavente also created a trail of fraudulent bank instruments, such as withdrawal slips and cashier's checks, which he used to steal money from his victims' accounts and direct those funds to accounts he controlled, the indictment alleges.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Prosecutors say former Northern California bank manager facing prison in embezzlement case
Federal prosecutors say a former manager of a rural Northern California bank is facing up to 30 years in prison for allegedly embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars.
A spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office in Sacramento says 52-year-old Roxanna Foley is free on a $50,000 bond after a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging her with theft and embezzlement.
Prosecutors say between October 2011 and March 2012 Foley embezzled about $320,000 from the Eastern Sierra Community Bank in Bridgeport, where she was employed as a manager.
U.S. attorney's spokeswoman Lauren Horwood said Wednesday that Foley is scheduled to appear in court on May 29 for a status conference.
It was not known if Foley had retained an attorney.
Bridgeport is a community of several hundred people in remote Mono County, about 120 miles south of Reno, Nevada, or about 350 miles north of Los Angeles.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Credit union’s ex-VP sentenced in $1 million embezzlement in California
The onetime second-in-command of Upland-based Chaffey Federal Credit Union, who pleaded guilty to embezzling nearly $1 million from the institution, was sentenced in Riverside Federal Court to 21/2 years in prison Monday, March 25.
Carol Ann Ferraro, 66, of Riverside, also was ordered by U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips to pay a fine of $1,052,790.56. That covers restitution to Chaffey’s insurer of the $968,000 Ferraro had stolen, plus legal fees, research and audit expenses to identify the missing money.
“This is a relatively small credit union and it had a huge impact,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Antoine Raphael said in a phone interview after Ferraro was sentenced. “It was a lot of money taken over a long period of time by someone very high up.”
He called the embezzlement “fairly sophisticated — by someone who knew the banking system.”
In court papers, Raphael described Chaffey as “a small financial institution that serves employees of school districts in the San Gabriel Valley and the Inland Empire.”
Ferraro, whose last position with the credit union was executive vice president, issued checks drawn on Chaffey Federal Credit Union accounts for such things as credit card bills, cellphone bills and mortgage bills. One check for $29,355.50 was to pay for a recreational trailer, Raphael said.
Once identified, Ferraro admitted the embezzlement and took responsibility for it even before it was referred to the U.S. attorney’s office or the FBI.
She entered a plea agreement in October.
Requests for sentencing leniency included letters from her family and members of her church.
Ferraro sought a sentence of six months in custody and six months of home detention. She fought an enhancement that claimed she had abused her trust.
Her defense attorney argued that the law did not “distinguish between the window clerk at a credit union or the executive vice president,” and therefore her position at Chaffey should not be used as a sentence enhancement.
Deputy Federal Public Defender Young J. Kim also said in court papers there was no evidence Ferraro “took steps to hide her embezzlement from Chaffey FCU until she was confronted by an auditor.”
But the government successfully argued she had abused her trust.
Papers filed by Raphael said Ferraro had embezzled the money from January 2004 until June 2011. As auditors zeroed in on Ferraro in July 2011, she “attempted to conceal her theft … (Ferraro) created fictitious deposits … and she submitted a forged and fabricated financial statement to the bank auditor,” Raphael wrote.
Kim pointed out that Ferraro has been married to Ronald James Ferraro for 46 years, and has cared for him through health problems for 32 of those years. The couple has two adult daughters and seven grandchildren. She worked at Chaffey from June 1992 until August, 2011.
Her life, Kim wrote, “is so at odds with her crime … She has cared for and supported her daughters, her friends, her parents and many strangers through her church. She is by all accounts a kind, generous and giving person.”
Ferraro has until May 13 to report to serve her sentence, Raphael said. She will likely serve about 85 percent of the time.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Sanger woman pleads guilty to embezzling from the bank in California
A former Sanger bank employee pleads guilty to embezzling from the bank she worked at.
50-year-old Mary Helen Perez pleaded guilty yesterday to stealing and embezzling about $250,000 from a federally insured bank.
According to her plea agreement, Perez was employed as the Assistant Customer Service Manager at Westamerica Bank in Sanger and had been an employee of that bank for approximately 29 years.
From May 2007 until October 2011, Perez made approximately 78 cash withdrawals from seven customers’ bank accounts without the knowledge or authorization of the account holders. She deliberately targeted customers that she believed trusted her. Perez filled out withdrawal slips on the victims’ bank accounts and either forged their signatures or wrote an “X” on the signature line of the withdrawal slips. Perez spent some of the embezzled funds for personal expenses, but she spent the overwhelming majority of the funds at casinos.
According to court documents, Perez took several steps to hide her embezzlement from the bank and her victims. She told some of the bank customers who questioned her about the unauthorized withdrawals that there would be fees charged for investigating the account discrepancies.
Perez also sought to conceal her embezzlement by putting some of the victims’ bank statements on “hold” status so the she would receive them at the bank, where she destroyed them. As part of her plea agreement, Perez agreed to pay back Westamerica Bank the $249,793 it lost as a result of her embezzlement.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Baker is prosecuting the case.
Perez is scheduled to be sentenced on June 10, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill. The maximum statutory penalty she faces is 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables
Friday, May 27, 2011
ATM repairman accused of loading fake money in California
FROM SFGATE.COM
An employee of an ATM servicing company has been charged with swapping $200,000 in fake bills for real cash at machines in Daly City and San Francisco, a prosecutor said Thursday.
Samuel Kioskli, 64, of San Francisco was wanted on a warrant when he was arrested during a routine traffic stop in Phoenix on May 11, 10 months after the thefts, said San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.
Kioskli was an employee of Diebold, which services ATMs for Bank of America. On July 4, Kioskli went to six bank branches in San Francisco and one in Daly City and stole about $200,000 by replacing cash in the machine trays with counterfeit or photocopied $20 bills, Wagstaffe said.
Kioskli used his work card key to access the ATMs and was captured on video at all seven locations, authorities said.
The next day, Kioskli "abandoned his wife and disappeared," Wagstaffe said. His wife reported him missing, and angry Bank of America customers contacted the bank to complain about the fake money, authorities said.
Kioskli pleaded not guilty in San Mateo County Superior Court to charges of burglary, embezzlement, forgery and possession of counterfeiting apparatus. He is being held in lieu of $25,000 bail.
He faces similar charges in San Francisco.
An employee of an ATM servicing company has been charged with swapping $200,000 in fake bills for real cash at machines in Daly City and San Francisco, a prosecutor said Thursday.
Samuel Kioskli, 64, of San Francisco was wanted on a warrant when he was arrested during a routine traffic stop in Phoenix on May 11, 10 months after the thefts, said San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.
Kioskli was an employee of Diebold, which services ATMs for Bank of America. On July 4, Kioskli went to six bank branches in San Francisco and one in Daly City and stole about $200,000 by replacing cash in the machine trays with counterfeit or photocopied $20 bills, Wagstaffe said.
Kioskli used his work card key to access the ATMs and was captured on video at all seven locations, authorities said.
The next day, Kioskli "abandoned his wife and disappeared," Wagstaffe said. His wife reported him missing, and angry Bank of America customers contacted the bank to complain about the fake money, authorities said.
Kioskli pleaded not guilty in San Mateo County Superior Court to charges of burglary, embezzlement, forgery and possession of counterfeiting apparatus. He is being held in lieu of $25,000 bail.
He faces similar charges in San Francisco.
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