SAN FRANCISCO – Regina Berny, a 42-year-old executive assistant from San Francisco, has been hit with federal charges of bank fraud and wire fraud for allegedly siphoning off over half a million dollars from her two employers.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI revealed today that Berny is accused of stealing mail containing checks made payable to her employers, a global commercial property developer and a global perfume and cosmetics chain. She then deposited these funds into her personal account, using automated teller machines to avoid detection.
Berny, 42, has been charged with six counts of bank fraud and six counts of wire fraud, each carrying the possibility of substantial prison sentences if convicted. The alleged scheme spanned from January 2011 until August 2015.
According to the indictment, Berny faces a maximum sentence of thirty years in prison and a fine of $1,000,000 for each count of bank fraud, as well as a maximum sentence of twenty years and a fine of $250,000 for each count of wire fraud. Her arraignment is scheduled for May 23, 2017.
The defendant was released on bond following her arrest and first court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joeseph C. Spero this morning. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hallie Hoffman will handle the prosecution with Heidi Dittmer’s assistance.
An indictment is not a conviction, and Berny is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Public Corruption|White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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