A Statesboro man was arraigned Thursday on federal bank fraud charges, according to an indictment filed Oct. 9 by the U.S. District Court for Southern District of Georgia, Statesboro Division.
Gregory Todd, 31, Country Squire Drive, was indicted on 12 counts of bank fraud — two counts of making false entries in bank records, five counts of making false statements to influence bank loans, and five counts of making, passing or possessing forged securities, according to the indictment.
Todd was employed by Farmers and Merchants Bank of Statesboro. No one from Farmers and Merchants could be reached for comment Thursday.
In a telephone conversation with the Statesboro Herald Thursday, Todd said “Under advice of my attorney, I shouldn’t ... comment,” he said.
According to the indictment, Todd forged bank customer signatures in issuing loans and extending existing loans, forged promissory notes and endorsed and cashed checks made out to the bank customers.
The incidents occurred in 2006.
On April 28, 2006, Todd “did knowingly and willfully make ... false statements and reports for the purpose of influencing FMB of Statesboro ... upon the issuance of a loan by said bank to (victims) C.M. and P.M. ... falsely and fraudulently initiated ... loan in the amount of $10,000 ... without knowledge of said persons.”
The indictment listed victims by their initials to protect their privacy.
Todd also issued “as partial proceeds” of the loan a check for $1,860 that he did not give to the victims, but converted to his own use, the indictment read. He was also charged with forging the check.
On May 8, 2006, Todd extended an existing loan to victims identified as L. N. and D. E., by the amount of $10,000, according to the indictment. The check issued in that amount was not given to the victims, but converted to Todd’s use as well, it said.
Also, in the same case, Todd “... without the authority make a promissory note” to the bank in those victim’s names without their knowledge, forging their signatures to that document.
The indictment stated Todd also issued a check in the amount of $6,000, made out to victim L. N., then forged the victim’s signature before endorsing it himself. Another check in the amount of $4,000 was made out to victim D. E., then forged it as well, according to the indictment.
The indictment stated Todd issued a $6,500 loan to victims identified as J. B. and A. K. B. May 19, 2006, then made a promissory note without their knowledge, forging one of the victim’s signature to the note.
On June 28, 2006, Todd “... changed and extended a loan to (victim) J. T.” in the amount of $8,000, without the victim’s knowledge or consent, the indictment read. Todd issued a check for that amount, and did not give the victim the check but forged J. T.’s signature and then endorsed the check.
According to the indictment, between July 3-5, 2006, Todd made a change and extension of the existing loan” to a victim identified as C. C., in the amount of $3,000, and forged, then endorsed that check as well.
In a penalty certification filed by U.S. Attorney Edmund A. Booth Jr., and Frederick W. Kramer III, assistant U.S. Attorney, the document listed maximum penalties for each count of false entries in bank records as being up to 30 years in prison; fines up to $1,000; up to five years’ supervised release and a special assessment of $100.
For each count of making false statements to influence bank loans, the maximum penalties are listed as also being up to 30 years in prison; fines up to $1,000; up to five years’ supervised release and a special assessment of $100.
Each count of making, passing, or possessing forged securities can result in maximum penalties of up to 10 years in prison; a fine up to $250,000; supervised release for up to three years and a special assessment of $100.
Gregory Todd, 31, Country Squire Drive, was indicted on 12 counts of bank fraud — two counts of making false entries in bank records, five counts of making false statements to influence bank loans, and five counts of making, passing or possessing forged securities, according to the indictment.
Todd was employed by Farmers and Merchants Bank of Statesboro. No one from Farmers and Merchants could be reached for comment Thursday.
In a telephone conversation with the Statesboro Herald Thursday, Todd said “Under advice of my attorney, I shouldn’t ... comment,” he said.
According to the indictment, Todd forged bank customer signatures in issuing loans and extending existing loans, forged promissory notes and endorsed and cashed checks made out to the bank customers.
The incidents occurred in 2006.
On April 28, 2006, Todd “did knowingly and willfully make ... false statements and reports for the purpose of influencing FMB of Statesboro ... upon the issuance of a loan by said bank to (victims) C.M. and P.M. ... falsely and fraudulently initiated ... loan in the amount of $10,000 ... without knowledge of said persons.”
The indictment listed victims by their initials to protect their privacy.
Todd also issued “as partial proceeds” of the loan a check for $1,860 that he did not give to the victims, but converted to his own use, the indictment read. He was also charged with forging the check.
On May 8, 2006, Todd extended an existing loan to victims identified as L. N. and D. E., by the amount of $10,000, according to the indictment. The check issued in that amount was not given to the victims, but converted to Todd’s use as well, it said.
Also, in the same case, Todd “... without the authority make a promissory note” to the bank in those victim’s names without their knowledge, forging their signatures to that document.
The indictment stated Todd also issued a check in the amount of $6,000, made out to victim L. N., then forged the victim’s signature before endorsing it himself. Another check in the amount of $4,000 was made out to victim D. E., then forged it as well, according to the indictment.
The indictment stated Todd issued a $6,500 loan to victims identified as J. B. and A. K. B. May 19, 2006, then made a promissory note without their knowledge, forging one of the victim’s signature to the note.
On June 28, 2006, Todd “... changed and extended a loan to (victim) J. T.” in the amount of $8,000, without the victim’s knowledge or consent, the indictment read. Todd issued a check for that amount, and did not give the victim the check but forged J. T.’s signature and then endorsed the check.
According to the indictment, between July 3-5, 2006, Todd made a change and extension of the existing loan” to a victim identified as C. C., in the amount of $3,000, and forged, then endorsed that check as well.
In a penalty certification filed by U.S. Attorney Edmund A. Booth Jr., and Frederick W. Kramer III, assistant U.S. Attorney, the document listed maximum penalties for each count of false entries in bank records as being up to 30 years in prison; fines up to $1,000; up to five years’ supervised release and a special assessment of $100.
For each count of making false statements to influence bank loans, the maximum penalties are listed as also being up to 30 years in prison; fines up to $1,000; up to five years’ supervised release and a special assessment of $100.
Each count of making, passing, or possessing forged securities can result in maximum penalties of up to 10 years in prison; a fine up to $250,000; supervised release for up to three years and a special assessment of $100.