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Former New York City Employee Charged with
Stealing Bank Account Information from
City’s Department of Buildings
LEV L. DASSIN, the Acting United States Attorney for
the Southern District of New York, ROSE GILL HEARN, the
Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation,
and JOSEPH M. DEMAREST, JR., the Assistant Director-in-Charge of
the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
("FBI"), announced that ZENA JOHNSON, a former Quality Control
Coordinator at the New York City Department of Buildings, was
charged with bank fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud for
her role in a scheme to steal bank account information provided
to the Department of Buildings by individuals submitting permit
renewals and alteration repair applications. Some of stolen
information was used by JOHNSON's co-conspirators to create and
cash more than $50,000 in counterfeit checks.
As alleged in the Complaint filed today in Manhattan
federal court:
The New York City Department of Buildings ensures the
safe and lawful use of over 950,000 buildings and properties by
enforcing the City's Building Code, Electrical Code, Zoning
Resolution, New York State Labor Law and New York State Multiple
Dwelling Law. Department of Buildings functions include
examining building plans, issuing construction permits,
inspecting properties, and licensing trades. The Department of
Buildings also issues Certificates of Occupancy and Place of
Assembly permits.
Until her resignation on May 26, 2009, JOHNSON had
worked for several years as a Quality Control Manager at the
Department of Buildings Manhattan office. JOHNSON, among other
things, audited the work done by cashiers and clerks who
processed checks submitted at the Department of Buildings'
customer service window. JOHNSON was, in particular, responsible
for processing incoming paperwork and checks related to permit
renewals and alteration repair applications. On at least 50 to
70 occasions, JOHNSON made copies of such checks and provided
them to co-conspirators who used the information on the checks to
make and cash more than $50,000 in counterfeit checks.
JOHNSON, 29, of Bronx, New York, is charged with one
count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of bank
fraud. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in
prison for each of the counts.
JOHNSON surrendered this morning to FBI authorities and
is expected to be presented later today before United States
Magistrate Judge DEBRA FREEMAN in Manhattan federal court.
Mr. DASSIN praised the investigative work of DOI and
the FBI.
The case is being prosecuted by the Office's Public
Corruption Unit. Assistant United States Attorney AMIE N. ELY is
in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely
accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and
until proven guilty.
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