Former Bank Teller Pleads Guilty to Identity Theft
| U.S. Attorney’s Office April 20, 2009 |
PHILADELPHIA—Lauren W. Arnold, 21, of Philadelphia, pleaded guilty today to stealing the identifying information of Wachovia Bank customers while she worked there as a teller, in 2008, announced United States Attorney Laurie Magid. Arnold sold the customer names, addresses, social security numbers, dates of birth, drivers’ license numbers, and account balances, to a third party. The third party enlisted others and the information was used to negotiate fraudulent checks in the customers’ names and to make unauthorized withdrawals from the customers’ accounts. Arnold pleaded guilty to conspiracy and aggravated identity theft. The total intended loss to Wachovia Bank was over $270,000.
Arnold’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 11, 2009. She faces a maximum possible sentence of 25 years in prison, including a mandatory minimum two years in prison, three years supervised release, a $2.75 million fine, and a $1,100 special assessment.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nancy E. Potts.