FBI Arrests Former Bank Employee Charged With Stealing Cash From Bank Vault

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A criminal indictment was unsealed this week in federal court in Charlotte, following the arrest of Arlando M. Henderson by the FBI in San Diego, California.  Henderson, 29, of Charlotte, is charged with financial institution fraud and related charges, for stealing more than $88,000 in cash from the vault of the bank where he was employed, and then committing a separate loan fraud in connection with the purchase of a luxury automobile.

John A. Strong, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, joins U.S. Attorney Murray in making today’s announcement.

According to allegations contained in the indictment, Henderson was employed by a financial institution in Charlotte, and had access to the cash vault. The indictment alleges that on at least 18 occasions in 2019, Henderson stole cash from deposits made by bank customers from the bank vault, and used the money to pay for personal expenses and to make a large cash down payment on a luxury vehicle. On numerous days on which Henderson stole money, he also made cash deposits at an ATM near his worksite, the indictment alleges. It is further alleged in the indictment that Henderson destroyed certain documents and made, or caused others to make, false entries in the bank’s books and records to cover up the theft. According to the indictment, Henderson stole more than $88,000 from the bank vault.

The indictment also alleges that throughout July and August 2019, Henderson used a social media account to post several pictures of him holding large stacks of cash.  On or about July 2019, after Henderson had allegedly stolen more than $70,000 in cash from the bank vault, Henderson made a $20,000 cash down payment on a 2019 Mercedes-Benz, and obtained a car loan for the remaining balance from another financial institution, by providing false information and falsified documents, including falsified bank statements. 

FBI agents arrested Henderson in San Diego on December 4, 2019.  Henderson had his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gallo, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.

Henderson is charged with two counts of financial institution fraud, 19 counts of theft, embezzlement and misapplication, and twelve counts of making false entries, which carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine, per count; and transactional money laundering, which carries a penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The details contained in the indictment are allegations.  The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The FBI’s Charlotte Field Office led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Ryan of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.