Former Loan Officer Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud Scheme

Shawn Tidwell, a 41-year-old former loan officer from Brentwood, Tennessee, has pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud arising from a scheme he engaged in from February 2005 to February 2008. Tidwell worked at National Bank of Commerce and later SunTrust Bank, where he prepared loan paperwork for a potential borrower, forged their signature, and changed their address to his own. The scheme resulted in a $87,500 loan being disbursed to Tidwell, which he used for personal financial obligations. Tidwell faces up to 30 years' imprisonment and a $1,000,000 fine.

Key Takeaways:

• Shawn Tidwell, a former loan officer for National Bank of Commerce and SunTrust Bank, pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud.
• The scheme involved forging the signature of a potential borrower and changing their address to his own, resulting in a $87,500 loan being disbursed to Tidwell.
• Tidwell used the loan proceeds for various personal financial obligations and made payments for several years before defaulting on the loan.
• The crime was detected when the deceived borrower learned of the default and contacted law enforcement agents, who later traced the crime back to Tidwell.
• The case was investigated by agents with the United States Secret Service and United States Postal Inspection Service.
• Tidwell faces up to 30 years' imprisonment and a $1,000,000 fine.

Statistics:

• $87,500: The amount of the loan that Tidwell fraudulently obtained.
• 2 years: The time period during which Tidwell made payments on the loan.
• 30 years: The maximum imprisonment sentence Tidwell faces.
• $1,000,000: The maximum fine Tidwell faces.
• 2005-2008: The years during which Tidwell engaged in the bank fraud scheme.

Sources:

• United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Tennessee
• Jerry E. Martin, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee
• United States Secret Service
• United States Postal Inspection Service