Tacoma Banker Sentenced for $1.3M Fraudulent Lending Scheme

GRIMY TIMES EXCLUSIVE: In a stunning turn of events, former Tacoma, Washington banker Jeffrey R. GoodeLL, 32, has been sentenced to four years in prison, five years of supervised release, and $917,204 in restitution for his fraudulent lending scheme that siphoned nearly $1.3 million from Northwest Commercial Bank.

GoodeLL, who lied about his education to secure a position at the bank, used his role as a loan officer to funnel cash disbursements to friends, associates, and potential customers by utilizing the Tacoma Rescue Mission’s bank accounts and line of credit. His deceitful ploy spanned from 2009 to 2010.

According to U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle, GoodeLL’s scheme involved unauthorized loans, impersonation, and falsified documents. He even went so far as to shave his head and feign a cancer diagnosis to avoid taking leave that might expose his deception.

Prosecutors argued that GoodeLL’s fraud was relentless, noting that he continued the scam after being confronted by a Tacoma Rescue Mission executive. His brazenness culminated in the fraudulent opening of another account using the identity of a TRM officer.

The investigation into GoodeLL’s crimes was led by the FBI and IRS-CI, while Assistant United States Attorney Arlen Storm prosecuted the case. The bank fired GoodeLL in December 2010 upon discovering the extent of his fraud.

U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan emphasized the severity of GoodeLL’s actions, stating that he pursued his fraudulent endeavors with a “vengeance,” systematically draining accounts and demonstrating a callous disregard for the law and the bank’s assets.