Former teller at Athol Savings Bank admits to stealing $108K from customers
By
Brad Petrishen
Telegram & Gazette Staff
Posted Feb 20, 2019 at 3:50 PM
Updated Feb 20, 2019 at 8:23 PM
WORCESTER – A former Athol Savings Bank teller admitted in federal court Wednesday to stealing more than $100,000 from customer accounts.
Jessica Vargas, 35, of Athol, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of bank fraud and two counts of bank embezzlement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Noto Thursday said Ms. Vargas stole more than $108,000 from eight customers over 17 months. She was caught in December 2017, Ms. Noto said, after a customer noticed a $2,000 withdrawal on her bank account she did not make.
An investigation by Athol Savings Bank revealed numerous instances of Ms. Vargas, who was promoted to branch supervisor in May 2017, making withdrawals for customers who weren’t physically present.
Ms. Vargas stole $53,425 from an 84-year-old Athol woman, authorities said, as well as $12,950 from an 88-year-old Athol woman.
The bank fired Ms. Vargas and reimbursed its customers, authorities said.
Confronted by the bank, Ms. Vargas initially said she took no more than $10,000, authorities wrote in court documents, an amount she later amended to $20,000.
“Vargas (told the bank) she had taken money in order to help her mother and had sent money to her mother by way of money orders and Western Union,” authorities wrote in court documents.
When federal authorities came to question Ms. Vargas, she “stated
that she did not know anything about any missing money from customer
accounts, and stated that she had not made any unauthorized
withdrawals.”
She also denied telling the bank she stole any money, authorities wrote.
Wednesday, Ms. Vargas pleaded guilty to the three felony charges against her in a low voice. Asked by the judge whether she suffered from any drug or alcohol addictions, she said she did not.
Ms. Vargas faces up to 90 years in prison and a fine of up to $3 million. Ms. Noto informed the court that a guideline sentence for Ms. Vargas would be between 15 and 21 months.
Sentencing is set for mid-May. Ms. Vargas was released on personal recognizance with restrictions, including that she not travel outside Massachusetts and that she seek employment.
Ms. Noto said the government intends to seek $108,171 in restitution.
Jessica Vargas, 35, of Athol, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of bank fraud and two counts of bank embezzlement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Noto Thursday said Ms. Vargas stole more than $108,000 from eight customers over 17 months. She was caught in December 2017, Ms. Noto said, after a customer noticed a $2,000 withdrawal on her bank account she did not make.
An investigation by Athol Savings Bank revealed numerous instances of Ms. Vargas, who was promoted to branch supervisor in May 2017, making withdrawals for customers who weren’t physically present.
Ms. Vargas stole $53,425 from an 84-year-old Athol woman, authorities said, as well as $12,950 from an 88-year-old Athol woman.
The bank fired Ms. Vargas and reimbursed its customers, authorities said.
Confronted by the bank, Ms. Vargas initially said she took no more than $10,000, authorities wrote in court documents, an amount she later amended to $20,000.
“Vargas (told the bank) she had taken money in order to help her mother and had sent money to her mother by way of money orders and Western Union,” authorities wrote in court documents.
She also denied telling the bank she stole any money, authorities wrote.
Wednesday, Ms. Vargas pleaded guilty to the three felony charges against her in a low voice. Asked by the judge whether she suffered from any drug or alcohol addictions, she said she did not.
Ms. Vargas faces up to 90 years in prison and a fine of up to $3 million. Ms. Noto informed the court that a guideline sentence for Ms. Vargas would be between 15 and 21 months.
Sentencing is set for mid-May. Ms. Vargas was released on personal recognizance with restrictions, including that she not travel outside Massachusetts and that she seek employment.
Ms. Noto said the government intends to seek $108,171 in restitution.
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