Pittsburg, Texas Man Indicted in Bank Fraud Scheme

TYLER, TX—A 59-year-old Pittsburg, Texas man has been indicted in a bank fraud scheme in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.

Lesley Carroll Beene was indicted today and charged with bank fraud and false bank entries. If convicted, Beene faces up to 30 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $1 million.

The indictment alleges that on Aug. 4, 2008, Beene represented to Cypress Bank that he had a 2003 Kobleco SK 480 LC Excavator which he used as collateral to secure a loan in the amount of $150,000. However, when the loan became due, he failed to produce the collateral to Cypress Bank for inspection or sale. On Aug. 30, 2008, Beene is alleged to have knowingly made false entries in the books, reports and statements of Cypress Bank. Specifically, that he owned four acres of land in Pittsburg, Texas worth $585,000 and that he had no mortgage on that property, when in fact, Beene had owner financed a 10-year mortgage from 2004 to 2014 on the property in the amount of $195,000.

This law enforcement action is part of President Barack Obama’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force.

President Obama established the interagency Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force to wage an aggressive, coordinated, and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. The task force includes representatives from a broad range of federal agencies, regulatory authorities, inspectors general, and state and local law enforcement who, working together, bring to bear a powerful array of criminal and civil enforcement resources. The task force is working to improve efforts across the federal executive branch, and with state and local partners, to investigate and prosecute significant financial crimes, ensure just and effective punishment for those who perpetrate financial crimes, combat discrimination in the lending and financial markets, and recover proceeds for victims of financial crimes.

This case is being investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise O. Simpson.

A grand jury indictment is not evidence of guilt and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.