Bank Teller’s Alleged Theft from Customer Accounts Leads to Criminal Charges

PHILADELPHIA—Brandon Jewell-Wright, 25, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was charged today by information with conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, bank fraud, and aiding and abetting bank fraud, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. According to the information, between January and September 2007, Jewell-Wright, working as a teller for Wachovia Bank, made computer inquiries into the accounts of Wachovia customers for the purpose of determining the balances in their accounts and the account holder’s date of birth and Social Security number.

The information further alleges that Jewell-Wright obtained the addresses, Social Security numbers, and account bank balances for some of Wachovia’s customers which he then sold for cash to another conspirator. The information charges further that the conspirator, and others unknown to the United States Attorney, prepared counterfeit corporate checks payable to the victimized bank customers. The checks were presented to tellers at various Wachovia Bank Branches in Philadelphia for either deposit, followed by a withdrawal, or for cashing. The checks were honored based on bogus identification presented by the check presenter and the balances in the accounts of the Wachovia customers for whom the checks had been made payable. The fraud loss resulting from Jewell-Wright’s alleged scheme is estimated at $255,087.04.

If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum statutory sentence of 155 years in prison, restitution, a fine of up to $5.25 million dollars, a special assessment of $600, and three years of supervised release.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Floyd J. Miller.