A former bank employee has been accused of stealing almost $1 million from a customer’s account over a six-year period and spending the money on real estate and other expenses, Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw said Tuesday.
Agha Hasan, 41, of Bordentown was arrested Tuesday and charged with second-degree counts of theft by deception, computer criminal activity and misapplication of entrusted property. Hasan was also charged with three counts of third-degree failure to file New Jersey Tax Returns, five counts of third-degree failure to pay income tax and two counts of third-degree filing false returns.
Prosecutors alleged Hasan stole $998,188 from a single customer over six years while working at a Santander Bank branch in Mount Holly, authorities said.
Fraud investigators from Santander contacted authorities last year after discovering suspicious transactions executed and overseen by Hasan, who had recently been fired from his job, according to authorities.
“As a responsible bank, Santander Bank’s highest priority is protecting our customers,” the company said in a statement to NJ Advance Media. “The individual in question is no longer affiliated with Santander Bank. We continue to assist local law enforcement with their investigation and prosecution of this matter, and we have reimbursed the customer.”
Investigators said Hasan had been an employee of the bank since 2014 and befriended the customer, gaining his trust to help with paying bills. The relationship developed to a level where Hasan visited the customer at his home and obtained blank checks the customer had signed, as well as having the customer approving wire transfers, prosecutors said.
Besides getting approval for certain transactions from the customer, Hasan allegedly made cash withdraws and disbursements from the customer’s account.
Authorities said Hasan used the money for personal expenses, to purchase real estate and operate several businesses, including gas stations, car washes, convenience stores and a consulting business called Delval Consultants, LLC.
Hasan was arrested Tuesday and is being held at the Burlington County Jail awaiting a detention hearing, officials said.
No attorney was listed in online court records for Hasan Tuesday evening.
Editor’s Note: This article was updated to include a statement from Santander Bank.
Stories by Matthew Enuco
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