Zena Johnson, a former Quality Control Coordinator at the New York City Department of Buildings, has been
charged with bank fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud for her role in a scheme to steal bank account information provided to the Department of Buildings by individuals submitting permit renewals and alteration repair applications. Some of stolen information was used by Johnson’s co-conspirators to create and
cash more than $50,000 in counterfeit checks.
As alleged in the Complaint filed today in Manhattan federal court, until her resignation on May 26, 2009, Johnson had worked for several years as a Quality Control Manager at the Department of Buildings Manhattan office. Johnson was, in particular, responsible for processing incoming paperwork and checks related to permit renewals and alteration repair applications. On at least 50 to 70 occasions, Johnson made copies of such checks and provided them to co-conspirators who used the information on the checks to make and cash more than $50,000 in counterfeit checks.
Johnson, 29, of Bronx, New York, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of bank fraud. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison for each of the counts.
The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Amie N. Ely is in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of New York