FORMER BANK PRESIDENT CHARGED WITH FRAUD

By WVUA 23 Web Writer Mary Clay Kline

TUSCALOOSA — Former Bibb County bank president John Kevin Vann was charged with bank fraud for issuing 31 fraudulent loans using the names of other people or businesses and keeping the proceeds for himself.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office filed a 31-count information in U.S. District court and charged 55-year-old Vann, a Tuscaloosa resident, with devising a scheme to defraud his employer of $100,000 between Oct. 11, 2011, and March 7, 2014. Vann was the president of BankTrust Bank, which became Trustmark National Bank, during that time.

Vann agreed to plead guilty to one count of bank fraud, pay $120,774 in restitution to Trustmark National Bank and consent to forfeit the same amount to the government as proceeds of illegal activity.

Vann had worked in the banking industry for more than 20 years, and in his role as president was able to access customer names, addresses and other personal information. He used that data to execute the fraud, according to the plea agreement.

The maximum penalty for bank fraud is 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Williamson Barnes will prosecute the case.