A former branch manager of a New York-based bank has been sentenced to 13 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for using his position to steal nearly $209,000 from a customer’s accounts.
James Gomes, 43, of New York, was sentenced yesterday for his role in a sophisticated scheme that lasted from January to April 2020. While working as the branch manager at an international financial institution, Gomes exploited his access to a customer’s accounts to fraudulently transfer $208,938.68 to his own personal bank and investment accounts.
Court documents reveal that Gomes manipulated the bank’s system by linking his personal phone number to the customer’s accounts and enrolling them in the bank’s online services—without the customer’s knowledge or consent. He went a step further by creating a fake email address, impersonating the customer, and using it to send fake instructions to himself through his official bank email. This clever ruse made it appear as though the customer was authorizing the transfers.
Gomes’ fraudulent activity continued even after the customer passed away on April 5, 2020. In total, Gomes misappropriated the funds over several months, diverting them to his personal accounts and even using some of the stolen money to pay his own phone bill.
In addition to the prison sentence, Gomes was ordered to pay $208,938.68 in restitution and forfeiture of criminal proceeds.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the abuse of trust by individuals in positions of power. The sentence reflects the severity of the crime, and authorities are continuing to take a strong stance against financial fraud and abuse.
