A 32-year-old Florida man has pleaded guilty to accepting bribes in exchange for fraudulently opening over 100 bank accounts with TD Bank, N.A.
Jhonnatan Steven Rodriguez, a/k/a “Jorge,” pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas in Newark federal court to a two-count Information charging him with one count of receipt of bribes by a bank employee and one count of making false bank entries.
According to documents filed in these cases and statements made in Court, Rodriguez began opening bank accounts for unknown individuals in exchange for bribes of approximately $200 to $250 per account in late 2022.
During the scheme, Rodriguez accepted bribes in exchange for fraudulently opening approximately 140 bank accounts, some of which were used for fraud. In carrying out this bribery scheme, Rodriguez would often forge the purported customers’ signatures on account opening documents.
To protect his identity, Rodriguez used the alias “Jorge” on a text messaging app to communicate with the individuals seeking bank accounts. The use of this alias highlights the level of deceit and corruption involved in this scheme.
Rodriguez’s sentencing is scheduled for November 25, 2025. He faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of the greater of up to $1 million or three times the value of the thing given, offered, promised, solicited, demanded, accepted, or agreed to be accepted.
The investigation leading to the charges was conducted by special agents and task force officers of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, Newark Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan; special agents and task force officers of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Caribbean Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael A. Miranda; and special agents of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation-Office of Inspector General, New York Region, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Patricia Tarasca. The Morristown Police Department also assisted with the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marko Pesce, Deputy Chief of the Bank Integrity, Money Laundering, and Recovery Unit in Newark and Trial Attorneys D. Zachary Adams and Chelsea Rooney of the Justice Department’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section. Defense counsel for Rodriguez is Murdoch Walker, Esq. and Serguel Akiti, Esq.
This conviction serves as a reminder of the severe consequences of corruption and the importance of holding individuals accountable for their actions. The public can expect to see more of these types of cases being brought to justice in the coming years.
A copy of the plea agreement and other documents related to the case can be found on the Department of Justice’s website.
Related Federal Cases
- TD Bank Insider Pleads Guilty to Bribes for 140 Fake Accounts · New York
- Live Nation Faces Trial Over Monopoly Practices · Washington
- Brazoria County Drug Lord Sentenced To Over 22 Years · Mississippi
- Alin Carabus Pleads Guilty in $5M ATM Skimming Scheme · New York
- Robert Mate, ATM Skimming Kingpin, Gets 57 Months · New York
Key Facts
- State: New Jersey
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime|Financial Crimes|Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
