Forty-nine-year-old Leona Parsons faced her victims in court today. She pleaded guilty to stealing more than $300,000 while working as a personal banker at a Chase branch in Imperial Beach.
The District Attorney's Office says her victims were in their 70's, 80's, and 90's. They say she formed close relationships while manipulating them over the course of four years. She would allegedly withdraw more money from an account than the client would ask for and pocket hundreds of thousands of dollars for herself.
"She would change my $1,000 to as much as $9,000," said one of her victims, LeRoy Edwards.
One woman says her late husband told her to trust Parsons with their finances while on his deathbed.
"Before he died he said, 'When I'm gone, you can trust and confide in Leona, she’s very good at what she does and she will help you,"' said another victim, Marina-Elena O'Hara.
Prosecutors say for at least four years, Parsons forged signatures and stole from bank accounts totaling more than 85 fraudulent transactions.
Parsons was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison. Chase bank reimbursed those victims for the full amount that was taken. The San Diego County Sheriff's Department believes there may be more victims. If you think you or someone you know may have been victimized, call the Sheriff's Department.
