Two Former Scotiabank Managers Sentenced to Prison for Bank Fraud
| U.S. Attorney’s Office November 01, 2012 |
ST. THOMAS—District Court Chief Judge Curtis V. Gomez today sentenced Steven G. Gardner, 47, to 37 months in prison and Daniel Rogers, 39, to 35 months in prison for bank fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering, announced United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Joseph Campbell. Gardner was the branch manager at Scotiabank located at Havensight/Port of Sale Mall, and Rogers was the manager for Scotiabank’s Cross Border, Centralized Retail Collection Unit, which is responsible for the care and maintenance of repossessed properties.
The court also sentenced both men to five years of supervised release and ordered Gardner to pay restitution in the amount of $331,000 and Rogers to pay restitution in the amount of $216,000. Both men also were ordered to pay a $400 special assessment.
On July 25, 2012, Gardner pleaded guilty in federal district court on St. Thomas to bank fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. According to documents filed in court, in November 2011, during a regularly scheduled bank audit, it was discovered that Gardner had been stealing money from the bank’s account under the guise of paying charges on delinquent customer loans. Gardner would either make out checks payable to vendors who had previously performed services for the bank, or he would make the checks payable to cash. When a check was made payable to a vendor, Gardner would either forge the signature or waive endorsement, and convert the funds for his personal use.
On July 31, 2012, Rogers pleaded guilty to bank fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. According to documents filed in court, in November 2011, during a regularly scheduled bank audit, it was discovered that Rogers had been stealing money from the bank’s account under the guise of paying for forced-place insurance, legal fees, and property taxes on properties in foreclosure. Rogers was responsible for managing properties that had been foreclosed or were in the process of being foreclosed. He used the bank’s “endorsement waived” stamp to cash the fraudulent bank checks that he created to pay the add-on charges and converted the money for his personal use.
As part of their plea agreements, Gardner and Rogers agreed to forfeit properties to the United States. Gardner agreed to forfeit his retirement account in the amount of $115,000, three vehicles consisting of a 2008 Lexus LS460, a 2003 Nissan 350Z, and a 2000 Lexus GS300. Gardner also agreed to forfeit a Palm Gardens condominium, as well as $17,000 in a savings account. Rogers agreed to forfeit his retirement account in the amount of $32,000 and two vehicles consisting of a 2007 Toyota Tacoma and a 2003 Acura MDX. Rogers also agreed to forfeit his interest in a Skyline Drive Village condominium.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation-St. Thomas Resident Agency and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nelson L. Jones.