Former Bank Employee Sentenced for Identity Theft Scheme

PHILADELPHIA—Marisol Morales, 40, of Philadelphia, was sentenced today to two years and one day in prison for bank fraud and aggravated identity theft stemming from her role in a scheme that defrauded her employer, Wachovia Bank, of more than $300,000, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. Morales pleaded guilty on May 11, 2009, to four counts of aggravated identity theft and one count of bank fraud.

From July 2006, through January 2007, while working as a Wachovia Bank customer service representative, Morales sold confidential bank account information and signature cards to another person enabling fraudulent checks to be written and withdrawals to be made on those accounts. The face value of all of the fraudulent checks and withdrawal slips was $532,279.11. Because some of the checks were cashed for less than face value or tellers stopped the transaction, the total amount stolen from Wachovia Bank was $367,003.43.

In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Berle M. Schiller ordered Morales to pay restitution in the amount of $367,003.43, pay a $500 special assessment, and complete five years of supervised release.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily McKillip.