NEWARK, NJ – U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced the indictment of Jorge Nova, a 35-year-old bank employee from Passaic, New Jersey.
Nova is charged with wire fraud for illicitly withdrawing over $105,000 in federal retirement benefits belonging to a deceased bank customer.
The indictment alleges that Nova, while working at a commercial bank in Nutley, New Jersey, in 2014, exploited the continued deposit of Social Security retirement benefits into the deceased customer’s account.
He fraudulently obtained debit cards in the beneficiary’s name and withdrew funds. Nova also set up accounts with a money service provider under the deceased’s name to access a second bank account.
Nova’s actions, amounting to wire fraud, carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. He was released on a $100,000 unsecured bond following his appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael A. Hammer.