Charlotte banker charged by feds with transferring $120,000 in phony account scheme
A Charlotte bank worker was indicted by a federal grand jury last week for allegedly being involved in a $120,000 scheme to defraud customers through fake bank accounts, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina announced.
Jaminata Starks, 29, of Charlotte, had her initial appearance in federal court on Monday before U.S. Magistrate Judge David Keesler.
Starks opened new bank accounts for existing customers that the customers never knew about, then transferred funds between accounts, according to allegations in the indictment.
Between April 13, 2022, and May 23, 2022, Starks plotted with others to use customers’ personal information to open the new accounts, according to the indictment. Funds were transferred into fraudulent accounts without the victims’ knowledge.
The four victims were from Florida, New Jersey and New York, according to court records.
Starks allegedly transferred at least $120,000 from the bank accounts and entered false records, according to the charges. Starks was also offered $1,000 for each fake account she created.
The bank’s name and location are not listed in court documents. It was referred to as a federally insured financial institution. The name of the bank where Starks worked is not public record, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Federal authorities charged Starks with conspiring to defraud the U.S. government, four counts of making false bank records and four counts of aggravated identity theft. Along with the charges, the indictment included a notice for a forfeiture judgment for at least $30,000 because of conduct mentioned in the indictment.
Starks was released on bond following her initial appearance.
