Bank Insider Allegedly Obtains Customers’ Debit Card PINs, Drains $440,000 From Their Accounts in Just Two Months: DOJ

An associate banker at a large national bank is accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from customers in a span of just two months.

According to the Northern District of California’s U.S. Attorney’s Office, Sixto Christopher Porras allegedly stole approximately $440,000 from two retail bank customers while stationed in San Francisco.

In each of the cases, Porras managed to drain the bank accounts using the customer’s existing debit cards or replacements.

The first incident occurred in August of 2023 after a customer walked into the bank to conduct a wire transfer, according to the Northern District of California’s U.S. Attorney’s Office.

“As the transfer was processed, Porras obtained from the customer the security personal identification number associated with the customer’s debit card. Unbeknownst to the customer, Porras kept the customer’s debit card. Porras allegedly proceeded to use the debit card to embezzle approximately $100,000 from the customer’s account.”

The second incident took place about a month later.

“In or about September 2023, another retail bank customer visited the branch to address a fraudulent charge. As Porras assisted the customer, he obtained the security PIN associated with the customer’s debit card. Porras then caused the customer’s debit card to be reissued and sent to Porras’ San Francisco residence. Porras allegedly proceeded to use the debit card to embezzle approximately $340,000 from the customer’s accounts.”

Porras, who currently no longer works with the unnamed bank, is now facing charges of embezzlement of bank funds and access device fraud. For the embezzlement charge, Porras could get a maximum of up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine if convicted. The access device fraud charge carries a maximum of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.

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