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Bank Employee Charged with Stealing Federal Benefits Intended for Deceased Customer
Newark, N.J. – In a shocking case of fraud, Jorge Nova, a 35-year-old bank employee from Passaic, New Jersey, has been charged with stealing over $105,000 in federal retirement benefits intended for a deceased customer.
According to documents filed in the case, Nova, who worked at a commercial bank in Nutley, New Jersey, fraudulently obtained funds from the deceased customer’s bank account by causing debit cards to be issued to himself in the customer’s name. He then used these debit cards to drain the retirement benefits from the customer’s bank account.
Nova also registered new accounts with a money service provider in the name of the deceased beneficiary and withdrew money from a second bank account held in the beneficiary’s name. This brazen scheme continued for over four years, from 2014 to 2018, until the Social Security Administration was notified of the beneficiary’s death.
The count of wire fraud against Nova is punishable by a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a maximum $1 million fine.
Nova appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael A. Hammer and was released on $100,000 unsecured bond.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachelle M. Navarro of the Organized Crimes and Gang Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and Nova is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
In a statement, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger credited special agents of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, New York Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Sharon MacDermott, with the investigation leading to the charges.
Key Facts
- State: New Jersey
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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