Atlanta Banker Arrested in $931K Cryptocurrency Fraud Scheme

A former Atlanta-area banker has been arrested and charged in connection with a $931,500 cryptocurrency fraud scheme. Mercedes Henry, 35, worked as a universal banker at multiple Ameris Bank locations in the Atlanta area in 2021.

Prosecutors allege that on at least six occasions between September 2021 and November 2021, Henry stole account numbers and identifiers from six customers, linking their accounts to Coinbase, a cryptocurrency exchange platform used to buy digital currencies like BTC.

The scheme resulted in the fraudulent transfer of $931,500 from Ameris Bank to Coinbase accounts controlled by co-conspirators. Prosecutors say Henry received over $1,000 for her role in the operation.

Henry currently faces federal charges of bank fraud, access device fraud, and bribery. The identities of the co-conspirators who controlled the Coinbase accounts have not been released, nor has it been confirmed whether any of the stolen funds have been recovered or returned to Ameris Bank.