2 former Birmingham-area bank employees charged in customer account takeover scheme

2 former Birmingham-area bank employees charged in customer account takeover scheme

Two former Alabama bank employees have been indicted on charges that they conspired to steal customer’s account information.

Chimere Shanta Mitchell, 31, and Jamila Afhtan Davis, 31, both of Birmingham, are charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, according to a joint announcement Friday by Northern District of Alabama U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona and U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis.

According to the six-count indictment, Mitchell was previously employed by Wells Fargo Bank as a Fraud and Claims Operations Specialist responsible for working with bank customers who suspected fraudulent activity in their accounts.

Davis was previously employed by Regions Bank as a teller responsible for processing transactions and providing customer service.

The indictment alleges that between October 2020 and October 2021, Mitchell and Davis used their positions as bank employees to obtain financial account information from accountholders at Wells Fargo and Regions banks.

They would then provide that information to another individual who would either use it in connection with account takeover schemes or market it on Telegram, an encrypted mobile messaging application favored by cybercriminals.

The U.S. Secret Service Cyber Fraud Task Force investigated the case, along with the Vestavia Hills Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Canter is prosecuting the case.

The maximum penalty for wire fraud affecting a financial institution is 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The maximum penalty for conspiracy to commit wire fraud is the same.