Federal Grand Jury Indicts Former Bank Officer

Defendant Allegedly Embezzled More Than $2.7 Million from Employer

DALLAS—A federal grand jury in Dallas has returned an indictment against Ellis County resident Tracey Buckley, 44, charging her with one count of embezzlement of funds by a bank officer, announced U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas.

Buckley was arrested by FBI agents yesterday at her home in Palmer, Texas and appeared later in the day before U.S. Magistrate Judge Irma C. Ramirez and pleaded not guilty to the charge. Judge Ramirez released her on a personal recognizance bond; a trial date has not been set.

According to the indictment, between September 2008 and September 2010, while she was a bank officer with the Bank of New York Mellon, Buckley fraudulently initiated 40 wire transfers of approximately $2,719,674 from internal Bank of New York Mellon accounts to her own personal bank account at JP Morgan Chase.

An indictment is an accusation by a federal grand jury, and a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty. If convicted, however, Buckley faces a maximum statutory sentence of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. She could also be ordered to pay restitution. The indictment also includes a forfeiture allegation which would require Buckley, if convicted, to forfeit several vehicles, real estate in Palmer and Ennis, Texas, and real estate in Custer, Montana.

The case is being investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen P. Fahey is in charge of the prosecution.

This article was sponsored by Police Books.