Shreve Woman Charged with Bank Fraud

William J. Edwards, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, announced today that an information has been filed against Bridget D. Varnes charging her with bank fraud. Varnes, age 28, resides in Shreve, Ohio.

The information alleges that Varnes was employed as the branch manager of First Merit Bank in Berlin, Ohio. The information further alleges that, from December 2006 through December 2008, Varnes made numerous unauthorized withdrawals from several bank customers’ accounts and obtained loans in their names without their knowledge or authorization. The information charges that First Merit Bank lost $236,335.21 as a result of Varnes’ fraudulent conduct.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John D. Sammon, following an investigation by the Canton Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

An information is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.