FBI Media Release
Special Agent in Charge Manuel E. Mora
660 Mesa Hills Drive    El Paso, TX 79912 
To: All print and broadcast media
Contact:  Special Agent Andrea Simmons, 915.832.5373

May 24, 2007

Former Chase Bank Employees Arrested

Two former bank employees were arrested today on bank fraud charges, according to Manuel E. Mora, Special Agent in Charge of the El Paso FBI. Elodia Munoz, 48 years of age, and Maria del Rosario Gonzalez, 60, both of El Paso, were arrested by the FBI and the U.S. Secret Service for their role in a $1.2 million fraud scheme.

While a Vice President at J.P. Chase Morgan Bank, Munoz fraudulently applied for loans in the name of customers, without the consent or authorization of the customers, and then misapplied the proceeds from such loans for her personal purposes. Additionally, Munoz withdrew monies from customers’ accounts, without the consent or authorization of the customers, in furtherance of and to conceal the fraudulent scheme. She was assisted by Gonzalez who also worked in the Chase Bank International Banking Department. These activities began in 1994 and continued until 2001.

Munoz and Gonzales are charged with one count each of bank fraud (18 U.S.C. 1344) and one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud (18 U.S.C. 1349).

“We are concerned that not all victims of this fraud have been identified,” said Mora. “If anyone dealt with Munoz from 1994 to 2001, regarding their Chase bank accounts, they should contact our office.”

The FBI can be contacted at 915-832-5000.

The FBI and the U.S. Secret Service are working this case jointly.