A Saugus man, previously residing in Revere, has been charged and agreed to plead guilty to embezzling funds while employed as a bank teller at a Boston branch of a national bank.
Derek Aut, aged 28, faces charges of embezzlement by a bank employee and aggravated identity theft. These charges follow an earlier criminal complaint filed on December 18, 2024.
According to the charging documents, Aut allegedly stole from the accounts of two customers by forging their names on withdrawal slips. When one victim noticed missing funds, Aut is accused of covering his tracks by transferring money from another victim's account to replenish the first. The total amount taken is alleged to exceed $180,000.
The charge of embezzlement carries a potential sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a fine of $1 million. Aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year prison sentence that must be served consecutively with any other imposed sentence. Sentences are determined by a federal district court judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other legal factors.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England, announced the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen A. Kearney from the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is handling the prosecution.
It should be noted that these details are allegations as per the charging documents. The defendant remains presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.