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Former bank employees allegedly robbed Greater Boston customers

Former bank employees allegedly robbed Greater Boston customers


Crime

Citizens Bank apologized for “any inconvenience” the theft caused its customers.

Former bank employees allegedly robbed Greater Boston customers

A woman uses a Citizens Bank ATM in 2012.

Three former employees of Citizens Bank in Boston allegedly stole money from customers’ accounts by processing unauthorized withdrawals, prosecutors said.

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan’s office released a statement about the incident, charging Yeimaly Moscat, 23, Yojairis Suazo, 21, and Angélica Morales, 31, with allegedly stealing more than $90,000 together. to Citizens Bank customers.

“The security of our customers’ accounts is of utmost importance to us and we have robust security measures in place to monitor for suspicious activity,” Citizens Bank said in a statement to Boston.com. “We take the privacy and protection of the information entrusted to us seriously and apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.”

The statement said Citizens Bank addressed the matter “immediately.”

An investigation found that Moscat was a teller at a Citizens Bank branch in Somerville between September and November 2022, Ryan’s office said. According to the statement, Moscat allegedly processed 12 unauthorized withdrawals from the victim’s bank accounts. The withdrawals totaled $40,900, Ryan’s office said.

Suazo worked as a teller at Citizens Bank in Dorchester during the same period as Moscat, according to the release. Ryan’s office said Suzazo allegedly processed 15 unauthorized withdrawals totaling $30,850.

“The stolen funds in question, in both circumstances, were paid in transactions contrary to alleged associates of Moscat and Suazo,” Ryan’s office said. “Moscat and Suazo facilitated the transactions by entering the recipients as ‘Known Customers,’ even though the people at the counter were not the account holders.”

3 Citizens Bank tellers allegedly stole thousands of dollars

Morales worked at a Milton Citizens Bank location between November and December 2023, according to the release. Ryan’s office said she was allegedly “recruited” to carry out the plan. Morales allegedly processed five unauthorized withdrawals from clients’ bank accounts, according to the statement. The funds, which Ryan’s office said amounted to $20,000, were also paid in cross-party transactions.

“The allegations in this case are that three defendants executed a coordinated plan to steal funds from the bank’s customers. “They used their positions of trust to invade accounts and allegedly used their accomplices to successfully obtain substantial sums from the bank,” said District Attorney Ryan.

Moscat faces two counts of larceny, one court count of embezzlement by a bank employee, two counts of conspiracy to commit larceny and one count of attempted larceny. His bail was set at $1,000 and he is prohibited from entering any Citizens Bank branch or contacting witnesses, court records show. He pleaded not guilty in Middlesex Superior Court on Wednesday, records show. Moscat’s representation did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Suazo was indicted on one count of larceny, one count of embezzlement by a bank employee, one count of conspiracy to commit larceny and one count of attempted larceny. She was released on personal recognizance, records show. The court stipulated that he is also prohibited from having contact with any Citizens Bank or witnesses. She pleaded not guilty, records show. Suazo’s lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Morales is due in court on Dec. 12 for his arraignment, Ryan’s office said.

Eva Levin profile picture

Eva Levin is a general assignment co-op for Boston.com. Covers local and breaking news in Boston and beyond.