Former Bank Teller Sentenced for $83,000 Embezzlement
WICHITA, KAN. – A former Labette County bank clerk was sentenced Wednesday to three years on probation, including eight months home confinement, and ordered to pay full restitution for embezzling more than $83,000 from the bank where she worked, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
Angela S. Littlejohn, 41, Chetopa, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement. In her plea, she admitted the crime occurred while she worked as a teller during 2013 and 2014 at the Chetopa State Bank in Chetopa, Kan. She stole a total of at least $83,963 from multiple accounts at the bank
Beall commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch for their work on the case.
Delaware Bank Teller Sentenced for Embezzling $150,000
WILMINGTON, Del. – Charles M. Oberly, III, United States Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that Amanda Carey, age 28, of New Castle, Delaware, was sentenced today by the Honorable Richard G. Andrews, United States District Judge for the District of Delaware, to 12 months and one day imprisonment and full restitution. The defendant pleaded guilty to committing bank embezzlement, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 656, in October 2015.
According to statements made today and documents filed in court, the Judge found that Carey’s offense was a serious matter that warranted a term of imprisonment. Carey had embezzled approximately $150,000 from PNC Bank over the course several months last year. According to statements made at the plea hearing, Carey was employed as a teller supervisor at the bank, beginning in January 2015. On June 19, 2015, Carey did not report to work as scheduled. An audit of the bank’s vaults was conducted, and the bank learned that over $150,000 of cash was missing. An arrest warrant was issued for Carey on July 10, 2015, and she was arrested in Emporia, Virginia on July 28, 2015.
U.S. Attorney Oberly gave the following comments: “At a time when some question the need to incarcerate non-violent offenders, cases like this require some actual punishment. Ms. Carey breached her position of trust at the bank and stole nearly $150,000, none of which was recovered. The public needs to be assured that such crimes cannot simply be resolved or deterred through probation, but require some period of incarceration.”
“Ms. Carey took a large amount of money that wasn’t hers, so she must now face the consequences of her actions. There are laws that govern our society and our job as the FBI is to protect people from the criminals who chose to break those laws,” said Kevin Perkins, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Delaware.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the cooperation and assistance of PNC Bank Investigative Services Group.
Sandra Marks Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud, Money Laundering
Marks Also Agrees to Repay Victims at Least $1.2 Million
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA – The former owner of a fortune teller business on Seminole Trail in Charlottesville pled guilty today in Federal court to committing mail fraud and laundering more than $1 million in money stolen from her victims, United States Attorney John P. Fishwick Jr. said today.
Sandra Stevenson Marks, a.k.a. “Catherine Marks,” 42, of Charlottesville, Va., pled guilty today in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Charlottesville to one count of mail fraud and one count of money laundering. In addition, the plea agreement signed today in District Court calls for Marks to repay at least $1.2 million in restitution to the victims of the defendant’s scheme.
“Ms. Marks took advantage of people who trusted her during some of the lowest points of their lives,” United States Attorney John P. Fishwick Jr. said today. “Greed drove this defendant to break federal law and steal over $1 million from her victims. We are grateful to those who investigated this case and helped begin the process of making these victims whole again.”
“A fortune teller cons clients out of more than one million dollars, then launders the proceeds and commits mail fraud. This sounds like the plotline for a Hollywood movie. Unfortunately, for Ms. Marks’ victims, this was reality,” said Clark E. Settles, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations Washington, D.C. “I hope everyone appreciates, as much as I do, the HSI special agents who worked alongside our federal partners and the Albemarle County Police Department to investigate Marks and provide relief to the victims in the form of $1.2 million in restitution.”
According to evidence presented today, and at previous hearings by Assistant United States Attorney Ronald M. Huber, Marks, and her husband, Donnie Marks, operated the business, “Readings by Catherine” on Seminole Trail in Charlottesville, which offered services such as palm readings, candle readings, tarot card readings, astrological readings and spiritual readings to clients.
Marks admitted today, through a statement of facts submitted to the court and signed by the defendant, that she enriched herself by telling her clients she was clairvoyant and able to see into the past and the future. Marks also said she told her clients she had a “gift from God” and was able to communicate with spirits and guides from God, including the “Prince of Illusion,” who relayed information to her about clients.
Marks further admitted that she would tell clients that she had learned from the spirits and guides that the client, and/or the client’s family, was suffering from a “curse” and a “dark cloud” that occurred in the past. Marks would tell clients they would need to make a sacrifice of large amounts of money and valuables, whereby she would bury the money and items in a box to be “cleansed.” Marks explained to her clients that the money and property would be returned once the “work” was complete. Additionally, Marks would tell the clients that the money and property would not be used for Marks’ own personal benefit.
Contrary to her representations to clients, Marks kept and used money and other valuables provided by her clients for her own personal use and enjoyment and that of her husband. When Marks had used all of her client’s money, Marks would find new clients to fund the scheme, or tell old clients that additional money was required to continue her “work.”
At sentencing, Marks faces a maximum possible penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison on both the mail fraud count and money laundering count. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
The investigation of the case was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the United States Secret Service, the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, the Albemarle County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office and the Albemarle County Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Ronald M. Huber prosecuted the case for the United States.
Former Bank Teller Sentenced To Prison For Cashing Fraudulently Obtained Tax Refund Checks
Cashed More Than 360 Checks Totaling More Than $780,000
WASHINGTON – A Columbus, Georgia resident was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for her role in a stolen identity refund fraud conspiracy, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Caroline D. Ciraolo of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney G.F. Peterman, III for the Middle District of Georgia.
According to court documents, between February 2013 and May 2014, Vicky Wheeler, 55, worked as a bank teller at a SunTrust Bank branch in Columbus. Wheeler was approached by several co-conspirators who wanted her to cash fraudulently obtained tax refund checks in exchange for a fee. Wheeler was informed that the tax refund checks were generated from tax returns filed using stolen identities. To disguise the fraudulent nature of the checks, Wheeler made false entries on the face of the checks to make it appear as if she received identification when the checks were cashed. Wheeler never received any forms of identification. In total, Wheeler received and cashed approximately 361 fraudulent tax refund checks, including U.S. Treasury checks and tax refund checks issued by financial institutions that claimed $780,760.17 in tax refunds.
“The prosecution of stolen identity refund crimes remains a top priority of the department,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Ciraolo. “These cases are not limited to those individuals who file fictitious tax returns. We will vigorously pursue participants at all levels of these schemes, including those who steal identities and those who, like Ms. Wheeler, assist in cashing the refund checks that result from the fraud.”
“Stolen identity refund fraud results in major loss of revenue to the United States Government,” said Special Agent in Charge Veronica F. Hyman-Pillot of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation’s (IRS-CI). “Vicky Wheeler abused her position of trust and allowed greed and deceit to fuel criminal behavior. Today she is being held accountable for her actions. Her prison sentence and restitution order should send a message that refund fraud, greed, and deceit does not payoff in the end.”
In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Clay D. Land ordered Wheeler to serve three years of supervised release and pay restitution in the amount of $780,760.17.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Ciraolo and Acting U.S. Attorney Peterman commended special agents of IRS-CI and the U.S. Secret Service, who investigated the case and Trial Attorney Michael C. Boteler of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Crawford L. Seals of the Middle District of Georgia, who prosecuted the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.
Former Bank Teller and Check Casher Indicted For Cashing Fraudulently Obtained Tax Refund Checks
WASHINGTON – A federal grand jury sitting in Macon, Georgia, returned two indictments today against residents of Columbus, Georgia, charging crimes related to several stolen identity tax refund fraud schemes, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Caroline D. Ciraolo of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney G.F. Peterman, III, for the Middle District of Georgia.
Tonya Alexander is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit theft of public money and ten counts of theft of public money. The indictment alleges that, between June 2012 and December 2013, Alexander worked as a bank teller at SunTrust Bank in Columbus. Alexander was allegedly approached by several co-conspirators who wanted her to cash fraudulently obtained tax refund checks in exchange for a fee. The income tax refunds were generated by tax returns filed using stolen identities. It is further alleged that Alexander recruited another bank teller to assist her in cashing the fraudulent tax refund checks. In total, Alexander and her co-conspirators are alleged to have cashed over 500 tax refund checks that fraudulently claimed over $1 million in tax refunds.
George Rowell is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit theft of public money, seven counts of theft of public money and two counts of passing forged U.S. Treasury checks. The indictment alleges that between January 2013 and December 2013, Rowell owned and operated Big O’s Package Store located in Columbus. Rowell offered check cashing services at his store. Rowell was allegedly approached by several co-conspirators who wanted him to cash fraudulently obtained tax refund checks in exchange for a fee. The tax refunds were generated by tax returns filed using stolen identities. Rowell allegedly charged his co-conspirators 10 percent of the check’s face value and permitted at least one co-conspirator to forge the endorsement on the checks in his presence. In total, Rowell and his co-conspirators are alleged to have cashed over 250 tax refund checks worth more than $600,000.
If convicted, Alexander and Rowell each face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison for the conspiracy counts and 10 years in prison for each count of theft of public money. Rowell also faces a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for each count of passing a forged U.S. Treasury check. Both defendants also face monetary penalties, supervised release and restitution.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Ciraolo and Acting U.S. Attorney Peterman commended special agents of Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Secret Service, who investigated the cases and Trial Attorney Michael C. Boteler of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Crawford L. Seals of the Middle District of Georgia, who are prosecuting the cases.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.
Former Credit Union Employee Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal Prison and Ordered to Pay Nearly $800,000 in Restitution for Embezzling Funds from Pantex Federal Credit Union
AMARILLO, Texas — Dorothy Stegall Barnes, a/k/a “Dorothy Stegall Newman,” of Fritch, Texas, was sentenced this morning by U.S. District Judge Mary Lou Robinson to 30 months in federal prison following her guilty plea in September 2015 to one count of embezzlement from a federally insured credit union, announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.
Judge Robinson also ordered that Barnes, 57, pay $797,336 in restitution. She must surrender to the Bureau of Prisons by February 15, 2016.
According to documents filed in the case, Barnes, who worked as the Assistant Vice-President of Teller Operations of the Pantex Federal Credit Union (PFCU) in Borger, Texas, admitted embezzling approximately $826,000 from the credit union.
In October 2014, Barnes advised the credit union’s President that a teller had suddenly quit. At the President’s request, she counted the teller’s vault and advised him that the vault was short $380,000. The vault was recounted, and the shortage was determined not to be a clerical error. An audit was conducted, and during the auditing process, the auditor identified a transaction traced to Barnes in which she transferred $826,000 to her teller vault. Barnes admitted taking the $826,000 over a number of years, but denied any involvement in the missing $380,000. She admitted embezzling money from PFCU in different ways and said she avoided detection by making various transactions to make her teller vault balance. PFCU officials located copies of the PFCU checks Barnes issued to pay her bills and other expenses between approximately 1996 and November 2010.
The FBI and Borger Police Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Frausto prosecuted.
Bessemer Grocer Sentenced to Nearly 4 Years in Prison
Must Pay $5.2 Million for Food Stamp Fraud and Money Laundering Scheme
BIRMINGHAM – A federal judge this week sentenced a Bessemer grocery store owner to three years and 10 months in prison and ordered him to forfeit $5.2 million to the government for defrauding the food stamp program, structuring cash transactions and laundering money to hide the illegal profit, and evading federal income taxes, announced U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Veronica Hyman-Pillot and U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, Investigations, Special Agent in Charge Karen Citizen-Wilcox.
HASAN F. AHMED, 50, owner and operator of Associated Discount Foods on Ninth Street South in Bessemer, pleaded guilty in March to one count each of food stamp fraud, tax evasion and structuring currency transactions, and four counts of money laundering. U.S. District Judge R. David Proctor sentenced him on the charges Monday. In accordance with Ahmed’s plea agreement with the government, the judge also ordered Ahmed to forfeit the $5.2 million as proceeds of illegal activity.
“For several years, this defendant misused thousands of dollars’ worth of food stamp benefits every day, enriching himself at the expense of American taxpayers and food stamp recipients,” Vance said. “The SNAP program provides assistance for those who need help to feed their families. We will not allow criminals to corrupt that program so they can feed their own greed.”
“Hasan Ahmed intentionally abused the SNAP program and lined his pockets with taxpayer funds,” Hyman-Pillot said. “His actions ultimately reduced the amount of benefits available to families in need of nutrition assistance. IRS-CI and our law enforcement partners will continue to work together and investigate similar schemes. We will trace every penny of illicit proceeds and return the funds to the United States Government.”
Associated Discount Foods is a mid-sized neighborhood grocery store that was authorized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program food stamp benefits.
From January 2007 through December 2010, the store’s average monthly SNAP redemptions were $4,196, increasing to $17,457 in January 2011, according to Ahmed’s plea agreement. By April 2011, the store’s monthly SNAP redemptions surpassed the average monthly redemptions of five other medium-sized grocery stores within a 14-mile area.
“Based on ADF’s total SNAP redemptions and comparison analysis, the defendant acquired an estimated $5,243,866.49 in SNAP benefits from July 2011 through June 2014 in a way that was contrary to law,” the plea agreement said. Ahmed’s redemptions rose dramatically because he illegally swapped food stamps for cash, at less than the stamps’ face value, and allowed customers to purchase ineligible items with food stamp benefits at inflated rates, according to the document.
Ahmed evaded taxes on the illegal income when he filed a federal income tax return for the 2013 tax year claiming total income of $24,728 when his actual income was $210,927, according to his plea.
Court documents, including Ahmed’s plea agreement, outline his money laundering and illegal currency structuring as follows:
Ahmed controlled a BB&T checking account opened in the name of a relative, identified in court documents as R.N. Between June 2013 and June 2014, in four separate transactions, he deposited $58,100 in proceeds of his food stamp fraud into R.N.’s account. Ahmed moved money into R.N.’s account from his grocery store’s business accounts, where SNAP benefits were electronically deposited, to conceal or disguise that the money was the product of his food stamp fraud.
Ahmed illegally structured financial transactions in an Associated Discount Foods business account at BB&T, making two withdrawals of $10,000 and 36 withdrawals ranging from $9,200 to $9,900, for a total of $362,900, between January and May of 2013. After a bank teller informed Ahmed that transactions over $10,000 had to be reported, he made no further currency transactions over that amount.
Financial institutions are required by law to report currency transactions above $10,000 to the U.S. Department of Treasury. “The defendant engaged in these transactions to evade the reporting requirement” on the 38 withdrawals, according to Ahmed’s guilty plea.
IRS-CI and USDA-OIG investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erica Williamson Barnes and Daniel Fortune prosecuted.
Gloucester County, New Jersey, Woman Sentenced To 33 Months In Prison For $600,000 Embezzlement/Money Laundering Scheme
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Gloucester County, New Jersey, woman was sentenced today to 33 months in prison for embezzling more than $600,000 from dormant TD Bank customer accounts, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Telisha Trent, 43, of Williamstown, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Renée Marie Bumb to an information charging her with one count of bank fraud and one count of money laundering. Judge Bumb imposed the sentence today in Camden federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From Aug. 9, 2014, through Sept. 11, 2015, Trent used her position as a financial services representative and bank teller at a TD Bank branch in Sewell, New Jersey, to identify dormant checking and savings accounts, primarily held by elderly TD Bank customers. Trent would research the account holder in order to assess the risk of whether the account holder would notice that the funds in the account were removed. She would steal the money in the dormant account by transferring the funds to accounts she controlled or have a cashier’s check issued in her name.
Trent then transferred the funds through a series of accounts that she controlled in order to hide her fraud. To avoid detection, Trent closed the dormant accounts. Trent admitted obtaining $608,000 in cash from eight TD Bank customers in New Jersey, Connecticut, and Ohio. She admitted to spending the money on home renovations, lavish trips, two BMW sedans, items for her children, and other items.
After the fraud was discovered, TD Bank reimbursed the victims for the money and funds stolen by Trent.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Bumb sentenced Trent to five years of supervised release and ordered to pay $608,483 in restitution.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI’s South Jersey Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael Harpster in Philadelphia, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by R. Stephen Stigall, U.S. Attorney in Charge of the Camden Office.
Defense counsel: James Conley Esq., Haddon Heights, New Jersey
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