FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	CONTACT: Lauren Horwood
May 24, 2011	PHONE: (916) 554-2706
www.usdoj.gov/usao/cae	usacae.edcapress@usdoj.gov
Docket #: 2:10-CR-154-LKK

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced that today United States District Judge Lawrence K. Karlton sentenced Melvin Rohs, 65, of Nevada City, to 33 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release and ordered him to pay $533,976 in restitution.

On December 14, 2010, Rohs pleaded guilty to three counts of theft, embezzlement or misapplication of bank officer or employee and two counts of making a false statement in connection with a loan application or renewal.

According to court documents, Rohs was a senior loan officer at a regional bank headquartered in Nevada City until he was terminated in May 2009. In December 2008, February 2009, and March 2009, Rohs initiated three unauthorized fund transfers between bank customers totaling over $472,000. Also, according to court documents, in September 2008 and April 2009, Rohs falsified loan documents by making materially false statements concerning the credit worthiness of a bank customer and by making an unauthorized increase to a loan approved by the bank. The loss associated with Roh's criminal conduct exceeds $2.1 million.

This case is the product of an investigation by IRS-Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Camil A. Skipper prosecuted the case.

This law enforcement action is part of the work being done by President Barack Obama's Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force. President Obama established the interagency Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. The task force includes representatives from a broad range of federal agencies, regulatory authorities, inspectors general, and state and local law enforcement who, working together, bring to bear a powerful array of criminal and civil enforcement resources. The task force is working to improve efforts across the federal executive branch, and with state and local partners, to investigate and prosecute significant financial crimes, ensure just and effective punishment for those who perpetrate financial crimes, combat discrimination in the lending and financial markets, and recover proceeds for victims of financial crimes. One component of the FFETF is the national Securities Fraud Working Group, which is tasked with combating investment fraud schemes. For more information on the task force, visit StopFraud.gov.

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