Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: April 20, 2007
Contact : Sue McKinney
BANK FRAUD SENTENCING
Macon: Maxwell Wood, the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announced that SHIRLEY LORD PATEL was sentenced before the Honorable Wilbur D. Owens, Jr., District Court Judge for the Middle District of Georgia.
PATEL entered a guilty plea to one count of bank fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1344, and one count of money laundering in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956(a)(1)(B)(I). PATEL developed a scheme to defraud Betty J. Lord Trucking, Inc. and the Bank of Perry, both businesses located in Perry, Georgia.
PATEL was a bookkeeper at Betty J. Lord Trucking, Inc. As such, PATEL had access and control over various check registers, journals and computers. In addition, PATEL had access to an operating account for the benefit of employees maintained at the Bank of Perry. From April 2005 through September 2005, PATEL made eighteen (18) transfers totaling $10,400.28 from the Bank of Perry to an account maintained with Wachovia Bank in a branch located in Sarasota, Florida.
In addition, using a computer PATEL surreptitiously acquired personal information from individuals. With the fraudulently obtained personal information, PATEL created and manufactured counterfeit checks and false identification cards. With stolen and fraudulently obtained personal information thus acquired, PATEL transferred, or attempted to transfer, funds from legitimate credit card, bank and retirement accounts, to various bank accounts in the names of actual and fictitious persons for the purpose of embezzling and stealing said funds. Using the fraudulent methods described, PATEL attempted to embezzle and steal approximately $91,200.41.
PATEL received a sentence of thirty-three (33) months, to be followed by five (5) years supervised release. There is no parole in the Federal system. In addition, PATEL was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $31,148.53.
The investigation conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Harry J. Fox, Jr. Any questions concerning this matter should be addressed to Sue McKinney, Public Affairs Specialist, United States Attorney’s Office, at 478-621-2602.
