Bank Teller and Her Husband Indicted for Bank Fraud

Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, today announced that a federal grand jury in Cleveland, Ohio, returned an indictment against Steve Warden, age 35, and Rebecca Warden, age 34, of Brunswick, for bank fraud in connection with Rebecca Warden’s employment as a teller at the National City Bank branch in Strongsville.

From on or about 2006 through March 2010, Rebecca Warden, while employed as a teller, removed cash from her National City Bank cash drawer and gave it to her husband, Steve Warden, who would come into the Strongsville branch and pretend to conduct legitimate banking transactions. During this time period, Rebecca Warden would also remove cash to issue official bank checks and money orders payable to businesses to which Steve Warden owed money. As a result of the Wardens’ fraudulent conduct, National City Bank sustained a loss of approximately $923,471.

The indictment is a result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Henry F. DeBaggis.

If convicted, the defendants’ sentences will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendants’ prior criminal records, if any, the defendants’ roles in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.

A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.