PHOENIX, AZ (May 31, 2012) – A former Wells Fargo branch manager in Phoenix has been arrested and charged with making fraudulent computer entries and altering documents to conceal more than $1.7 million in missing funds. Following her arrest, Linda Miller (D.O.B. 4/6/65) pled not guilty to four counts of computer tampering, a class 4 felony. She is currently free after posting a $1,500 cash bond. The alleged scheme was uncovered by a joint investigation involving the FBI and Mesa Police Department.

“Thanks to the diligence and perseverance of our law enforcement partners, my prosecutors now have the opportunity to hold someone accountable for the damage caused to a member of our business community,” remarked Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery. “We cannot allow the trust and confidence citizens place in our financial institutions to be undermined by this type of criminal behavior,” he added.

Information uncovered in the investigation indicates that during the period Miller served as assistant branch manager and later branch manager she allowed the cash balance in the bank’s vault to grow to unusually high levels, and then created false documentation to conceal a series of large withdrawals. The missing funds have not been located.

“White Collar Crime, especially financial crimes involving our banking and financial institutions continues to persist as a serious crime problem in Arizona,” stated FBI Special Agent in Charge James L. Turgal, Jr. “This arrest and indictment signifies that the FBI and our law enforcement partners are committed to protecting our community and financial institutions from the effects of fraud and holding accountable those individuals who would seek to harm our community’s financial well-being.”

Miller’s initial pretrial conference is scheduled for July 16, 2012 before Commissioner Barbara Spencer. The charges contained in the indictment are not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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