A former Bank of America employee pleaded guilty this week to stealing more than $100,000 from a bank customer who was experiencing cognitive.
Lee Blanchette, 58, of Farmington, waived her right to be indicted and pleaded guilty in New Haven federal court on Tuesday to one count of bank fraud, according to a statement from the U.S attorney’s office.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Blanchette worked at Bank of America as a relationship manager. Her role gave her the authority to activate temporary ATM cards and assign them to a customer’s account.
Prosecutors said that between August 2014 and March 2016, Blanchette caused multiple temporary ATM cards to be activated for bank accounts of a customer who Blanchette knew was experiencing cognitive decline. Without the customer’s authorization, Blanchette used the temporary ATM cards to withdraw funds from the customer’s accounts, according to the statement, keeping a significant portion for her own benefit and causing a loss of $103,080.
Blanchette has agreed to pay restitution to Bank of America, which covered the victim’s losses. She is released pending sentencing, which is scheduled for Aug. 26.