Memphis, TN – A former loan officer at Trustmark Bank
pleaded guilty to a one-count information, which charged him in connection with
a fraudulent loan scheme. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the
guilty plea today.
According to the information, Robert A. Whartenby, 58, of
Memphis, was a loan officer at Trustmark’s main Memphis office. Whartenby
appeared before United States District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman and admitted that
between May 2017, and June 2018, he defrauded Trustmark of almost $400,000
through a scheme in which he submitted false paperwork in support of loans to
Memphis Designs Group, LLC and Windridge Investments, fictitious companies he
had created. The loan proceeds were then disbursed to accounts at Bank of
America which Whartenby had opened in the names of the fictitious entities.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "The financial
fraud committed by this defendant is disturbing. The abuse of his position of
trust and authority as a bank loan officer for his own personal gain had a
significant negative impact on the shareholders, employees and customers of
Trustmark Bank. The U.S. Attorney’s Office places a high priority on protecting
the security and integrity of transactions, deposits and assets of financial
institutions, and this case demonstrates that commitment."
A sentencing hearing is set for 2:00 p.m. December 12, 2019,
before U.S. District Court Judge Sheryl H. Lipman.
Whartenby faces a maximum penalty of 30 years imprisonment,
a fine of $1,000,000 and five years supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of
Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carroll L. André III is prosecuting
this case on behalf of the government.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment