Sioux Falls Man Sentenced for Bank Fraud

US Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Sioux Falls man charged with bank fraud was sentenced on October 31, 2011, by Chief US District Judge Karen E. Schreier. Vivian Mason, age 34, was sentenced to five months in custody with five months of home confinement to follow, $30,319.50 in restitution to Wells Fargo, five years of supervised release, and $100 to the Victim Assistance Fund.

Mason was indicted for bank fraud by a federal grand jury on April 6, 2011. While Mason was employed as a teller at a Wells Fargo branch in Sioux Falls, he embezzled approximately $45,000. He borrowed approximately $15,000 from a friend and acquaintance with her knowledge, and then withdrew approximately $30,000 from her account at Wells Fargo without her knowledge or permission. He used this money to conceal the theft from his teller drawer. Mason pled guilty to the indictment on August 12, 2011.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant US Attorney Kevin Koliner prosecuted the case.