WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — A former Warner Robins bank official and two other men have admitted stealing more than $5 million dollars from Citizens Bank and Trust.
All three have been sentenced to federal prison and ordered to pay back most of the money.
According to a news release from U.S. Attorney Charles Peeler, McDonald Hardin, 57, of Kathleen was City Bank President and senior lending officer at CB&T's Warner Robins office.
Hardin admitted working on a loan scheme with Steve Stokeling, 55, formerly of Warner Robins and Joseph Askew, 43, of Perry.
Stokeling, Askew and their friends, family, and others all agreed to apply for fraudulent loans. But they didn't use the money to buy homes, cars, or other legitimate purposes.
Peeler's office says the three stole $5,067,333 from CB&T, between February 2008 to August 2010.
According to Peeler:
- Hardin pleaded guilty in May to one count of bank fraud was sentenced to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $3.3 million to CB&T and Progressive Insurance.
- Stokeling was sentenced to six and a half years in prison and five years supervised release and ordered to pay $28,8232.15 in restitution to the bank. He pleaded guilty in May to one count of bank fraud.
- Askew was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison and ordered to pay nearly $1.6 million to CB&T and Progressive. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
Federal judge Marc Treadwell sentenced all three this week.
According to their indictment, the three used part of the money to pay off other non-performing loans. They also used imaginary homes as collateral that were actually vacant lots and borrowed money using cars that didn't exist as collateral.
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