Former San Francisco Bank Employee Charged With Embezzling From Customer Accounts And Access Device Fraud

SAN FRANCISCO – A federal grand jury has indicted Sixto Christopher Porras with embezzlement of bank funds and access device fraud in connection with the alleged theft of funds from accounts belonging to two retail bank customers while he was employed with a bank in San Francisco.  Porras made an initial appearance in federal district court this morning.

According to the indictment filed June 17, 2025, and unsealed today, Porras, 32, of San Francisco, was an associate banker at a San Francisco branch of a large national bank.  In or about August 2023, a retail bank customer visited the branch to complete a wire transfer.  As the transfer was processed, Porras obtained from the customer the security personal identification number associated with the customer’s debit card.  Unbeknownst to the customer, Porras kept the customer’s debit card.  Porras allegedly proceeded to use the debit card to embezzle approximately $100,000 from the customer’s account.  

In or about September 2023, another retail bank customer visited the branch to address a fraudulent charge.  As Porras assisted the customer, he obtained the security PIN associated with the customer’s debit card.  Porras then caused the customer’s debit card to be reissued and sent to Porras’ San Francisco residence.  Porras allegedly proceeded to use the debit card to embezzle approximately $340,000 from the customer’s accounts.

United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Oakland Field Office Special Agent in Charge Linda Nguyen made the announcement.

Porras was released on bond.  He is next scheduled to appear in district court on July 14, 2025, for identification of counsel before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Kang.    

Porras is charged with one count of embezzlement of bank funds in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 656 and one count of access device fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1029(a)(5).  An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.  If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a fine of $1 million for the embezzlement charge, and 15 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for the access device fraud charge.  Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.  

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Rezaei is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Lynette Dixon.  The prosecution is the result of an investigation by IRS-CI.