An Indiana man has been sentenced to 2.5 years in federal prison for stealing over $158,000 from bank customer accounts. Dekoda Scott Clark, a 32-year-old from Tell City, was handed down the sentence after pleading guilty to bank theft and access device fraud. As reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Southern District of Indiana, Clark is also ordered to pay full restitution amounting to $158,208.53.
During his employment as a Relationship Banker in an Evansville bank branch between January 2023 and March 2024, Clark managed to illicitly withdraw cash and issue unauthorized debit cards from the accounts of unsuspecting customers. He went on to use these cards to swiftly make 17 purchases at various retailers and even to casually drop $2,000 into his own Draft Kings account, among other high-value items.
U.S. Attorney Tom Wheeler stressed the gravity of Clark's breach of trust, stating, "Bank employees are entrusted with safeguarding their customers’ hard-earned money, not exploiting that trust for personal gain." The prosecutor highlighted that such actions not only harm individuals but collectively undermine our confidence in the financial system. The sentence and the demanded restitution are meant to reflect the serious nature of these offenses.
The list of items Clark splurged on includes three Apple iPads, a MacBook Pro, an Apple Watch Ultra, and other tech gadgets. The investigation was a collective effort, with the U.S. Secret Service, FBI, and Evansville Police Department all playing a pivotal role in exposing the fraud. "Instead of serving his bank’s customers, Dekoda Clark lavishly served himself by illegally taking their money," said Ike Barnes, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Indianapolis Field Office, highlighting the egregiousness of the crime.
Clark’s actions have led to not only a personal reckoning but also served as a cautionary tale for those in positions of financial trust. Special Agent Timothy O’Malley of the FBI commented, "By stealing more than $158,000 from customer accounts, this defendant not only violated the law, but also the confidence placed in him by both his employer and the community." The commitment of the FBI to protect the integrity of financial institutions and to bring to justice those who engage in fraudulent activities remains steadfast. U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young imposed the sentence, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew B. Miller led the prosecution on this case.
