LITTLE ROCK — A Little Rock man admitted Wednesday to a federal judge that he stole nearly $81,000 from customer accounts in 2017 and 2018 while working as the Bank of Little Rock’s electronic banking manager.
John Henry Curry Jr., 42, pleaded guilty to an embezzlement charge, for which he faces up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million when sentenced at a later date. He also must repay $80,729 to the bank, which reimbursed the customers whose accounts were pilfered.
While Assistant U.S. Attorney Jana Harris said Curry made unauthorized transfers involving 18 accounts, Curry insisted his actions involved only four accounts. Harris said it’s the government’s position that Curry should receive an enhanced sentence because his crime involved more than 10 victims.
The question will be resolved at sentencing, after a pre-sentence report summarizing Curry’s past is prepared by federal probation officers.
Curry also faces a sentencing enhancement — additional points to increase the penalty that will be recommended by federal sentencing guidelines — for abusing a position of trust. He will receive credit, however, for pleading guilty instead of going to trial.
Harris told U.S. District Judge James Moody Jr. that Curry worked as the electronic banking manager, which gave him full access to customer accounts, from July 23, 2014, through Oct. 9, 2018.
She said that between May 5, 2017, and Oct. 5, 2018, he made 151 unauthorized transfers from customer accounts to accounts belonging to him and two of his family members, who weren’t involved in the scheme.
Harris said the thefts were discovered when Taylor Construction Co. noticed suspicious activity involving its account and called the bank. The construction company wasn’t satisfied with explanations Curry gave them and their bookkeeper, she said, so they contacted other people at the bank.
According to facts read aloud in court by Harris, Curry transferred the bulk of the stolen funds — $75,511.72 — into two of his own accounts. She said he transferred $395 into two accounts of one family member and $2,637.66 into the account of another family member.
As the theft was unraveling, Harris said, human resources officials and Curry’s supervisor planned to speak to him on Oct. 9, 2018, but “he never returned from lunch” that day.
Curry was represented at the hearing in Moody’s Little Rock courtroom by attorney Lawrence Walker.