Safe Deposit Box Theft Prosecutions
1. United States v. Robert L. Carrington (2008, New York)
Facts: Carrington, a former bank employee, stole jewelry, cash, and rare coins from safe deposit boxes over a period of two years. He used his insider access to bypass security protocols. Total losses were estimated at over $1 million.
Charges: Bank theft (18 U.S.C. § 2113), conspiracy, and interstate transportation of stolen property.
Prosecution Argument: Evidence included security footage, audit trails of access logs, and recovered stolen property found in Carrington’s residence.
Outcome: Convicted, sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, and ordered to pay full restitution to victims.
Significance: Showed the risk of insider threats in safe deposit thefts and the role of electronic audit logs in prosecution.
2. United States v. Thomas J. Wilson (2012, California)
Facts: Wilson led a gang that broke into a bank’s safe deposit vault after hours. They stole cash, rare collectibles, and gold bars, using fake keys and insider information.
Charges: Bank burglary, conspiracy, and interstate transportation of stolen property.
Prosecution Argument: Authorities traced serial numbers on stolen items and recovered some from pawn shops. Fingerprints and surveillance footage linked Wilson and his co-conspirators.
Outcome: Convicted, sentenced to 12 years in federal prison, with restitution exceeding $2 million.
Significance: Demonstrated how organized crime targets high-value items in safe deposit boxes.
3. United States v. Angela M. Roberts (2015, Texas)
Facts: Roberts, a bank manager, accessed clients’ safe deposit boxes without consent, taking jewelry and cash. She falsified records to cover her theft.
Charges: Bank fraud, embezzlement, and theft of bank property.
Prosecution Argument: Investigators used audit trails, client complaints, and recovered items to establish unauthorized access and intent to steal.
Outcome: Convicted, sentenced to 8 years in federal prison, and ordered to return stolen property.
Significance: Highlighted employee embezzlement and abuse of managerial access as a key risk factor.
4. United States v. Edward K. Matthews (2017, Florida)
Facts: Matthews and accomplices posed as locksmiths to gain access to safe deposit boxes in multiple banks, stealing cash, jewelry, and rare coins.
Charges: Bank burglary, wire fraud, conspiracy, and interstate transport of stolen goods.
Prosecution Argument: Law enforcement traced pawn shop transactions, reviewed surveillance footage, and obtained witness testimony of Matthews and his co-conspirators using fraudulent credentials.
Outcome: Convicted, sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, with $3 million in restitution.
Significance: Showed multi-state coordination in safe deposit box theft and use of fraudulent credentials to bypass bank security.
5. United States v. Jason P. Reed (2020, New York)
Facts: Reed targeted high-end clients’ safe deposit boxes, stealing rare coins and gold. He used insider contacts and counterfeit access cards to enter the vault.
Charges: Bank robbery, conspiracy, wire fraud, and interstate transport of stolen property.
Prosecution Argument: Fingerprints, surveillance footage, and financial transactions of sold items were used to link Reed to the crimes. Several co-conspirators also testified against him.
Outcome: Convicted, sentenced to 14 years in federal prison, and ordered to pay restitution exceeding $4 million.
Significance: Highlighted high-value thefts from VIP clients and complex conspiracies involving insiders.
6. United States v. Samantha L. Greene (2022, Illinois)
Facts: Greene, a branch employee, accessed safe deposit boxes using forged authorization letters and stole jewelry and cash worth over $500,000.
Charges: Bank fraud, theft, conspiracy, and forgery.
Prosecution Argument: Security audits, recovered stolen property, and digital log analysis proved Greene accessed boxes without client consent.
Outcome: Convicted, sentenced to 7 years in federal prison, with restitution and permanent industry ban.
Significance: Demonstrated that forgery combined with insider access is a common method in safe deposit thefts.
Key Takeaways Across Cases
Insider Threats Are Common: Bank employees or managers often play a role in unauthorized access.
Evidence: Audit logs, surveillance footage, fingerprints, pawn shop records, and recovered items are critical.
Penalties: Sentences range from 7 to 15 years in federal prison, often with restitution orders.
Criminal Complexity: Organized theft rings use forged keys, access cards, or locksmith impersonation.
Federal Jurisdiction: Cases often involve interstate transport of stolen property, triggering federal prosecution.
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