Georgia Man Sentenced for Stealing Identities, Cash from Credit Union Customers

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Brandon Rayshawn Watkins, 30, of Douglasville, Georgia, was sentenced today to 13 months in federal prison for bank fraud.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Watkins made unauthorized transactions from accounts at Bayer Heritage Federal Credit Union in New Martinsville. Watkins obtained the personal identifying information and account numbers for numerous credit union customers, withdrawing cash from those accounts. Watkins also engaged in similar acts in South Carolina and the loss related to his criminal acts was over $70,000.

Watkins was ordered to pay $70,750 in restitution to Bayer Heritage Federal Credit Union and a personal money judgment of $10,050.  He will serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Conklin prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.

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