Columbus Grove Bank VP Charged With Making False Financial Statements

DAYTON – A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment against Barry J. Von Der Embse, 53 of Kalida, Ohio, alleging three separate counts of making false financial statements in an indictment returned in Dayton. Von Der Embse is charged with making three separate false statements to the Union Bank Company of Columbus Grove, Ohio in the form of personal financial statements in 2004, 2006 and 2007 while employed as a commercial loan officer with the bank.

Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Field Office and Joseph Moriarty, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Office of Inspector General, Chicago Field Office, announced the indictment returned today.

The indictment alleges that while employed as a commercial loan officer with Union Bank Company of Columbus Grove, Ohio, Von Der Embse filed materially false personal financial statements. Specifically, Von Der Embse allegedly failed to reveal his ownership of an 85-acre parcel of farmland in Shelby County, Ohio, including 456 head of cattle valued at approximately $421,800. It is also alleged that the defendant did not reveal liabilities in the form of a $12,600 farm loan and a $344,362 line of credit.

Each count of making false financial statements is a crime punishable by up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine.

U.S. Attorney Stewart commended the investigation of this case by the FBI and FDIC Office of Inspector General, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Dwight Keller, who is prosecuting the case.

An indictment merely contains allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.