Former Branch Manager Faces Fraud Charges
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jen [email protected]
According to the Warsaw Police Department, Windy Faye Montelongo, 35, of 1038 E. CR 350N, Warsaw, allegedly manipulated funds without authorization at National City Bank, Buffalo Street, where she was the branch manager. A press release from the Warsaw Police Department states that she reportedly "was engaged in a scheme to transfer, manipulate and obtain funds under her control."[[In-content Ad]]Montelongo reportedly used her position as branch manager to increase the credit lines on loan accounts and open new accounts. She then allegedly used the money from those accounts for herself and her family.
Four of the six known victims of the plan were members of Montelongo's family, and two accounts involved local businesses. The accounts reportedly were created without the victims' knowledge.
The names of the local businesses were unavailable as of this morning.
Police believe that about 16 accounts were manipulated, either by being created, having credit lines extended or having home equity lines established.
About $300,000-$400,000 was transferred between the accounts over a two-year timeframe. According to investigators from National City Bank, about $130,000 is still missing. Additionally, police say that about $100,000 in shared marital assets are also reported as being missing.
While Montelongo allegedly manipulated paperwork and signatures on the accounts and used employees to transfer the funds, no evidence shows that other employees were aware of the situation or participated in the scheme.
According to the Warsaw Police Department, some similar activity may have occurred in Logansport before September 2006 when Montelongo was branch manager for a National City Bank branch there. That investigation is still ongoing.
Montelongo was arrested Friday and booked into the Kosciusko County Jail. The Kosciusko County Prosecutor's Office has filed 11 charges of fraud on a financial institution, forgery and theft against Montelongo, and her bond was set at $50,000.
According to the Warsaw Police Department, Windy Faye Montelongo, 35, of 1038 E. CR 350N, Warsaw, allegedly manipulated funds without authorization at National City Bank, Buffalo Street, where she was the branch manager. A press release from the Warsaw Police Department states that she reportedly "was engaged in a scheme to transfer, manipulate and obtain funds under her control."[[In-content Ad]]Montelongo reportedly used her position as branch manager to increase the credit lines on loan accounts and open new accounts. She then allegedly used the money from those accounts for herself and her family.
Four of the six known victims of the plan were members of Montelongo's family, and two accounts involved local businesses. The accounts reportedly were created without the victims' knowledge.
The names of the local businesses were unavailable as of this morning.
Police believe that about 16 accounts were manipulated, either by being created, having credit lines extended or having home equity lines established.
About $300,000-$400,000 was transferred between the accounts over a two-year timeframe. According to investigators from National City Bank, about $130,000 is still missing. Additionally, police say that about $100,000 in shared marital assets are also reported as being missing.
While Montelongo allegedly manipulated paperwork and signatures on the accounts and used employees to transfer the funds, no evidence shows that other employees were aware of the situation or participated in the scheme.
According to the Warsaw Police Department, some similar activity may have occurred in Logansport before September 2006 when Montelongo was branch manager for a National City Bank branch there. That investigation is still ongoing.
Montelongo was arrested Friday and booked into the Kosciusko County Jail. The Kosciusko County Prosecutor's Office has filed 11 charges of fraud on a financial institution, forgery and theft against Montelongo, and her bond was set at $50,000.
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