A former bank branch manager in New York was sentenced to more than a year in prison after admitting he exploited his position to steal about $209,000 from a man in Fort Lee, police said Wednesday.
James Gomes, aged 43, admitted his guilt in May for committing wire fraud that impacted a financial institution. In a federal court in Newark, he was sentenced to 13 months in prison. Additionally, the judge imposed a three-year period of supervised release and ordered Gomes to forfeit $208,939 in illegal earnings. Moreover, Gomes is required to pay an equal amount in restitution.
He discreetly connected his personal phone number and a fake email address to the customer’s accounts, which he also signed up for the bank’s online banking services without permission. Gomes then utilized the counterfeit email to communicate with his own bank email address, giving the impression that the customer was instructing him.
In March, Gomes initiated the transfer of a significant amount of money from his victim’s accounts to his personal bank accounts at various financial institutions. Over time, the total amount transferred reached $208,939.