United States Attorney
Northern District of Texas

1100 Commerce St., 3rd Fl.
Dallas, Texas 75242-1699

Telephone (214) 659-8600
Fax (214) 767-0978

BANK EMPLOYEE ARRESTED FOR STEALING CHECKS
FROM IRS LOCKBOX

Ursula Nicole Moore, an employee of Bank of America, pled not guilty today at an arraignment before the Honorable Jane J. Boyle, United States District Judge, to charges that she stole approximately $30,000 in money orders and checks from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Lockbox operation at Bank of America, in Richardson, Texas. United States Attorney Richard B. Roper announced that the two-count federal indictment charges Moore with one count of theft of government property and one count of embezzlement by a bank employee. Moore was arrested last week and was released on bond.

Bank of America operates the IRS Lockbox facility under a contract with the IRS and the U.S. Department of Treasury, Financial Management Service. The IRS Dallas Lockbox receives taxpayer remittances, that is, tax payments, at several U.S. Postal Service boxes in Dallas. Ursula Nicole Moore was a part-time employee of Bank of America working at the IRS Dallas Lockbox, and as part of her job, had access to taxpayer remittance checks.

According to the affidavit filed with the criminal complaint in this case, from February 22, 2006 to April 17, 2006, Moore embezzled nearly $30,000 in money orders and checks made payable to the IRS from the IRS lockbox. On May 24, 2006, she opened an account at the Wells Fargo Bank at Abrams Road and Skillman Street in Dallas. Moore altered the checks she had stolen from the IRS Lockbox and deposited those checks into this Wells Fargo bank account, and then used the funds for her personal benefit.

An indictment is an accusation by a federal grand jury and a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty. However, if convicted on all counts, Ursula Nicole More, age 22, faces a maximum statutory sentence of 40 years imprisonment, a $1.25 million fine and restitution.

U.S. Attorney Roper praised the investigative efforts of the Department of Treasury, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph M. Revesz.

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