Former Tampa Banker Sentenced For Bank Fraud Scheme

Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Igor Shushpanov (39, Tampa) to 15 months in federal prison for bank fraud. The court ordered Shushpanov to pay $407,398 in restitution, which represents the loss amount. The court also ordered Shushpanov to forfeit $303,093.26 in proceeds he obtained through his criminal activity. Shushpanov pleaded guilty on November 18, 2024. 

According to court documents, from as early as February 2017, until approximately July 30, 2022, Shushpanov opened checking accounts at multiple credit unions that were members of the Federal Home Loan Bank system. Shushpanov then obtained credit cards or personal lines of credit from the credit unions. Upon receipt of the credit cards or personal lines of credit, Shushpanov made purchases or cash advances up to the credit limit. Shushpanov would then purportedly pay off the entire balance by sending worthless checks from accounts under his custody and control.

Between the time that the financial institutions credited Shushpanov’s credit account balances, and the worthless checks were returned for insufficient funds, he would again max-out his credit cards and personal lines of credit resulting in higher negative credit account balances. Shushpanov continued perpetrating this scheme by repeatedly depositing worthless checks and making subsequent credit card or personal line of credit purchases. He then filed a bankruptcy petition to avoid paying the credit unions he defrauded.

This case was investigated by the Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Office of the United States Trustee for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division, also provided substantial investigative assistance. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Chris Poor.