NJ Bank Call Center Employee Admits Role In Fraud Scheme: Feds

MOUNT HOLLY, NJ - A Burlington County man admitted his role earlier this month in a plot to steal bank customer identities for the purpose of stealing upwards of $520,000 from customers' accounts, federal officials said.

Jamere Hill-Birdsong, 33, of Mount Holly, pleaded guilty on Nov. 1 to an indictment charging him with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

From 2016 to 2017, Hill-Birdsong conspired with Lamar Melhado, of the Bronx, New York, and others to steal identities and account information of customers who called a Mount Laurel bank while Hill-Birdsong worked inside the call center, according to statements made in court.

The bank’s name or location was not named in Hill-Birdsong’s indictment.

During their employment, the conspirator bank employees would take photos or screenshots of the bank customer’s account information and signatures, Sellinger said. The conspirators would then send that information to Hill-Birdsong and Melhado.

False identification documents were then made in the names of the bank customers, with several runners utilized to enter bank branches and make unauthorized cash withdrawals, Sellinger said, adding that the conspirators also used the stolen information to make online transfers from the customer’s bank accounts.

The conspiracy to commit bank fraud charge to which Hill-Birdsong pleaded guilty carries a maximum potential penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest.

In his plea agreement, Hill-Birdsong agreed to pay back the full amount of the loss, which is estimated at $523,000. Sentencing is scheduled for March 7, 2023.

Melhado previously pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy and was sentenced in March to four years in prison.