A former employee of TD Bank, N.A. in Florida has admitted to accepting bribes for fraudulently opening over 100 bank accounts. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Alina Habba.
Jhonnatan Steven Rodriguez, also known as "Jorge," age 32 from Naples, Florida, entered a guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas in Newark federal court. He faces charges on two counts: receipt of bribes by a bank employee and making false bank entries. His sentencing is set for November 25, 2025.
Court documents reveal that starting in late 2022, Rodriguez began receiving bribes ranging from $200 to $250 per account to open accounts for unknown individuals. In total, he fraudulently opened around 140 accounts, some of which were used for fraudulent activities. To conceal his identity during these transactions, Rodriguez used the alias "Jorge" while communicating through a text messaging app.
The charge of receiving bribes carries a potential penalty of up to 30 years in prison and a fine that could reach $1 million or three times the value involved in the bribery scheme. Similarly, making false bank entries could result in up to 30 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $1 million.
U.S. Attorney Habba acknowledged the efforts of special agents and task force officers from various agencies including the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation's Newark Field Office, Drug Enforcement Administration's Caribbean Division, and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation-Office of Inspector General's New York Region for their roles in investigating the case. She also expressed gratitude towards the Morristown Police Department for their assistance.
The prosecution team includes Assistant U.S. Attorney Marko Pesce and Trial Attorneys D. Zachary Adams and Chelsea Rooney from the Justice Department’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section.
Rodriguez is represented by defense attorneys Murdoch Walker and Serguel Akiti.
