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Washington, D.C.: The Board of Governors of the U.S. Federal Reserve has issued a permanent prohibition order against Julio A. Gonzalez, a former employee of Synovus Bank, Columbus, Georgia. The action was taken after Gonzalez admitted to taking money from customer accounts for his personal use.
According to the order, Gonzalez worked at the bank from August 7, 2023, to January 16, 2024. Between December 21, 2023, and January 10, 2024, he misappropriated more than $38,000 from three customer accounts. The Federal Reserve stated that he also forged signatures on approval documents while carrying out the misconduct.
The bank reported the losses, and Gonzalez has repaid part of the amount. A criminal case was filed against him in Florida on January 17, 2024, but the case was later closed after he completed a pretrial diversion program.
The Federal Reserve said Gonzalez’s actions involved dishonesty, violation of banking laws and regulations, and unsafe banking practices. Because of this, he is now permanently prohibited from working in any bank or financial institution in the United States without prior written approval from the authorities.
The order states that Gonzalez cannot:
- Work in any capacity at a bank or financial institution
- Take part in management or decision-making
- Vote for bank directors or be involved in proxy activities
- Serve as an officer, employee, or board member of any regulated financial entity
The Federal Reserve also warned that violating the order could lead to additional civil or criminal penalties.
