Bank Vice President and Senior Business Director Sentenced in Wire Fraud Scheme

TAMPA—U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday today sentenced Susan Emily Jones (50, Lutz) to 24 months in federal prison for committing wire fraud. As part of her sentence, the court also entered a money judgment in the amount of $824,301.57, the proceeds of the wire fraud scheme. Jones has already forfeited her interest in a BMW, her personal residence, and the funds in three bank accounts totaling $7,166.38. Jones pleaded guilty on January 16, 2013.

According to court documents, Jones served as vice president and senior business director of Citicorp Services Inc. and managed its employees and operations. From November 13, 2003 through January 5, 2010, in Tampa, Jones falsely and fraudulently led Citicorp Services Inc. employees to believe that she was authorized to make certain expenditures of company funds and misappropriated these funds for her personal enrichment. Specifically, Jones used these funds to pay for Tampa Bay Buccaneers football season tickets, personal credit card expenses, charitable contributions, prepaid debit cards, auto-related expenses, travel, and other goods and services. As part of the scheme to misappropriate funds, she caused the unauthorized transfer of funds from the Citibank N.A. reserve account to the Citicorp Services Inc. account. In sum, Jones misappropriated $824,301.57 using interstate wire transmissions by bypassing Citicorp Services Inc.’s and Citibank N.A.’s internal controls for business and travel and entertainment expenses.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachelle DesVaux Bedke.