RALEIGH - United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. announced that today in federal court TONY MCELVEEN, SR., pled guilty to Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft before the Honorable Terrence W. Boyle.
According to the investigation, MCELVEEN used his position as BB&T branch manager, in Rowland, North Carolina, to steal the personal identifiers of two elderly customers to fraudulently obtain loans and credit cards in their names. The loan proceeds and credit cards were used for his personal benefit to pay for, among other things, rental cars, a home security system and hotel rooms in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. In addition, MCELVEEN closed a $50,000 certificate of deposit owned by one of the elderly victims, without her knowledge, and used most of the proceeds to make a large payment toward his delinquent residential mortgage.
MCELVEEN attempted to conceal his criminal activity through the use of his position as pastor for the Greater Faith World Outreach Church, in Florence, South Carolina. MCELVEEN deposited some of the fraudulently obtained proceeds into the Church’s operating account and used his signatory authority on that account to withdraw funds for his personal benefit. Additionally, he opened a BB&T account in the Church’s name through which he similarly laundered fraud proceeds. MCELVEEN even made it appear that one of the initial loan withdrawals for $28,500 was a charitable donation made by one of the elderly victims to the Church’s building fund.
“This defendant’s crime is simply despicable. Whether you see it as taking advantage of vulnerable, elderly individuals, whether it’s his effort to disguise his criminal activity by using his position as a bank officer, or whether he abused his role as a trusted pastor, Mr. McElveen’s actions are beyond horrible," stated Mr. Higdon. “And we look forward to seeking justice for two victims when he appears for sentencing."
The Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative is to support and coordinate the Department’s enforcement and programmatic efforts to combat elder abuse, neglect financial fraud and scams that target our nations’ seniors. For more information about the Department of Justice’s efforts to prevent and combat elder abuse, please visit the Elder Justice Website at: elderjustice.gov.
MCELVEEN faces a maximum of 30 years’ imprisonment and a $1,000,000 fine for Bank Fraud and a mandatory two-year term of imprisonment, consecutive to the Bank Fraud sentence, for Aggravated Identity Theft, when he is sentenced before Chief Judge Boyle tentatively set for the Aug. 19, 2019 term of court. MCELVEEN will also be required to make restitution to BB&T and American Express for their losses.
Investigation of this case was conducted by the United States Secret Service. Assistant United States Attorney Susan Menzer represented the government.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
