BOSTON - A Blackstone woman was charged today in U.S. District Court in Boston in connection with her role in a scheme to steal personal and bank account information from clients of her former employer.
Jasmine Banks, 29, was charged in an Information with one count of conspiracy to commit identity theft and access device fraud.
The Information alleges that, in 2014, Banks was a customer service employee for Mercer, Inc., in Norwood, and assisted customers with technical questions regarding their retirement plans that were administered by Mercer. In connection with her work, she had access to detailed account information and personally identifiable information (PII) for customers’ retirement accounts.
According to court documents, from approximately February 2014 through April 2014, Banks accessed Mercer account information at her computer and provided the names, addresses, and bank account and routing numbers of approximately 270 Mercer account holders to one of her co-conspirators via email and text message. In many cases, she also provided dates of birth and social security numbers. Banks allegedly reviewed 401(k) accounts for large balances, chose four with significant assets, and sent the co-conspirator detailed account access information for those four accounts. Based on the information Banks provided, a fraudulent withdrawal of $23,485 was made from one of the retirement accounts.
Mercer fully cooperated with law enforcement to prevent further account breaches and withdrawals.
The charge provides for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gain or loss, whichever is greater. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Lisa A. Quinn, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service, made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. D’Addio of Ortiz’s Cybercrime Unit.
The details in the Information are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
