NEW YORK - Hao “Howie” Wang, admitted stealing more than $1.1 million from JPMorgan Chase & Co. (“JPMC”) and stealing the identities of four victims. Wang, 28, pled guilty to grand larceny in the first degree, identity theft in the first degree, falsifying business records in the first degree, forgery in the second degree, and scheme to defraud in the first degree.
Wang is a former business banker at JPMC. According to documents filed in court, Wang’s criminal scheme occurred between February 2008 and February 2009. During that period, the defendant used various methods to conduct his scheme. For example, on or around February 28, 2008, the defendant fraudulently obtained a loan from JPMC in the amount of $100,000 by using the identity of a particular person without that individual’s knowledge or authorization. The defendant created false bank documents in the name of this victim, who was not a JPMC customer, causing the bank records to appear as the victim opened the account and applied for the loan himself. Subsequently, $90,000 of the stolen money was transferred to bank accounts outside of the United States. WANG then depleted the remaining $10,000 via debit card purchases and cash withdrawals.
In February 2009, Wang stole the identities of two additional JPMC customers. Using these stolen identities, the defendant was able to transfer $139,536 and $700,000 from the victims’ bank accounts to bank accounts outside of the United States.
“The defendant took advantage of his access to the confidential files and accounts of customers who entrusted their money to JPMorgan Chase & Co.,” said District Attorney Cyrus Vance. “Last year, we formed the Major Economic Crimes Bureau, a consolidation and enhancement of our existing resources, to fight these kinds of crimes. This Office remains committed to bringing to justice employees at financial institutions who abuse their positions to commit larceny.”
