Wells Fargo Employees Accused of Stealing $40,670 From Bank’s ATMs

Two Wells Fargo employees are accused of stealing thousands of dollars from the bank, according to new consent orders filed by a financial regulator.

In the first case, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) says Carolyn Hicks “misappropriated approximately $25,000 in cash” from an ATM between January of 2024 and February of 2024, while working as Wells Fargo’s operations assistant manager in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

The OCC is consequently banning Hicks from “participating in any manner in the conduct” of the affairs of insured banks, credit unions and depository institutions. While Hicks has consented to the enforcement action outlawing her from the banking industry, without denying or admitting any wrongdoing, other US agencies or authorities can still take further action “deemed appropriate” against her, the OCC says.

The second case involves Walther Riano-Vanegas. According to the OCC, Riano-Vanegas stole thousands of dollars over four months while working as a teller at a Wells Fargo bank branch in Linden, New Jersey, about four years ago.

“Between September 7, 2021, and December 23, 2021, during a time when he was assigned ATM custodian duties, Respondent stole approximately $15,670 in cash from two ATMs at the Branch. In an interview and written statement of January 31, 2022, Respondent admitted verbally and in writing to taking the missing cash.”

The OCC is similarly banning Riano-Vanegas from the banking industry while also keeping the door open for other US agencies and authorities to take further action against the former Wells Fargo teller, if deemed necessary or appropriate. Riano-Vanegas has consented to the OCC order against her, while neither denying nor admitting any wrongdoing.

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