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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that   RODNEY ROUSSELL (“ROUSSELL”), age 40, of Belle Rose, Louisiana, pled guilty today to bank fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1344(2).

According to documents filed in federal court, the case against ROUSSELL began as a result of a complaint from a local company (“Company A”) to the FBI. According to the bill of information, in August, 2017, ROUSSELL began working for Company A. Company A maintained its operational headquarters in New Orleans, Louisiana. Company A maintained a business account with JPMorgan Chase Bank (“Chase Bank”). Company A’s salary payments to ROUSSELL were made electronically and drawn on Company A’s account.

As Company A’s employee, ROUSSELL did not have access to Company A’s Chase Bank account, and was not authorized to make payments of any kind using funds in the account. Beginning in or about April 2018, and continuing until in or about June 2018, ROUSSELL utilized Chase Bank’s web portal and mobile banking app to transfer money from Company A’s account to pay the balance of ROUSSELL’s personal bank card.  In total, ROUSSELL obtained $213,372.05 from Company A’s Chase Bank account.

ROUSSELL faces a maximum penalty of thirty (30) years imprisonment, followed by up to five (5) years of supervised release, a fine of up to $1,000,000.00 or the greater of twice the gross gain to the defendant or twice the gross loss to any person under Title 18, United States Code, Section 3571, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.  Sentencing in this matter is scheduled for June 14, 2022, before United States District Judge Greg G. Guidry.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation with this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige O’Hale.