Orion Bank Fraud Prosecution in Naples FL | James Pat Guerréro
Four men were involved in a Orion Bank fraud scheme. The Orion Bank was headquartered in Naples, Florida.
On Monday Thomas Hebble (50), former executive vice president, pleaded guilty to bank fraud conspiracy in Fort Myers Federal Court. Hebble illegally raised capital for the bank and fraudulently sold off bad loans to a borrower who was also charged in the scheme. Hebble oversaw the transaction that went through by two other executives, ex-CEO Jerry J. Williams and Joey Guerzon, Jr., who was the senior vice president at the bank in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
Hebble admitted that he falsely put information on the books consisting of two loans totaling $80 million with $15 million being illegally returned through sold stock. Hebble signed a plea agreement in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas Frazier on March 31.
A Federal Grand Jury has indicted and accused Jerry J. Williams (51) on 13 counts that were secretively investigated by the FBI, the IRS, the Federal Reserve Board’s Office of the Inspector General, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). The counts include misapplied bank funds, falsified financial reports, mail fraud, wire fraud and money laundering. Williams pleaded not guilty, is seeking trial, and is out on bond.
Guerzon (42) pleaded guilty and signed a plea agreement in March.
Francesco Mileto (40) of Tamarac, Florida, pleaded guilty and signed a plea agreement in March. Mileto was the borrower in the scheme.
All face time in prison, fines of up to $250,000, and restitution to former bank employees and shareholders of Orion’s bank holding company.
Read More: Three plead guilty in Orion Bank fraud prosecution » Naples Daily News.
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