Myrtle Beach Woman Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud Charges

COLUMBIA, SC—United States Attorney William N. Nettles stated today that Jill Diane Brennan, age 44, of Myrtle Beach, SC, pled guilty today in federal court in Florence, to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349. United States District Judge Terry L. Wooten of Florence accepted the plea and will impose sentence after he has reviewed a presentence report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that Brennan was a Bank of America employee in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. As such, she became acquainted with mortgage brokers employed by Dunes Mortgage as they came into Bank of America to conduct business. Brennan began to certify Bank of America Verification of Deposit forms for Dunes Mortgage employees either by fax or in person. This was not a part of Brennan’s official duties and was done as a favor to Dunes Mortgage employees. A Verification of Deposit form certifies that an individual has an account at the bank and has a certain amount of funds in that account. Brennan knew as a bank employee that Verification of Deposit forms were used in support of loan applications. She certified these forms sometimes without checking and other times with the knowledge that the person was added to the account of the Dunes Mortgage employee. Darin Epps previously pled guilty to related charges and admitted he added names to his personal account to make it appear that the borrowers had funds when in fact they did not. Brennan certified Verification of Deposit forms to Royal Bank of Canada - Centura on false loan packages valued at $1,364,500.00.

Mr. Nettles stated the maximum penalty Brennan can receive is a fine of $1,000,000.00 and/or imprisonment for 30 years, plus a special assessment of $100.00.

The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney William E. Day, II of the Florence office handled the case.