Chesterfield woman stole $195,000 from Truist customers, then faked own death: DOJ
VENN
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- A Chesterfield County woman pleaded guilty on Tuesday to embezzling nearly $200,000 from Truist Bank customers, including churches and a children's museum. She then faked her own death in an attempt to avoid consequences.
On Tuesday, July 22, 35-year-old Ahshah Dior Martin, of Chesterfield County, pleaded guilty to charges of embezzlement and making false statements in connection with her time as an employee with Truist Financial Corporation, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
Martin began stealing customers' banking information in 2023, per court documents. She then used that information to charge customer accounts and withdraw money from them.
"For instance, Martin repeatedly initiated payments from customer bank accounts to a child support payment processor, through which Martin paid herself," the DOJ said.
In total, Martin stole about $195,000 from at least 70 Truist customer accounts. This included accounts belonging to several churches, a children's museum, an eye tissue bank nonprofit, multiple manufacturing and construction companies and the North Carolina Wing of the Civil Air Patrol, per court documents.
She then spent this money on things like cosmetics, clothes, dining, travel expenses and a hookah bar.
According to court documents, Martin was confronted by management about "improper customer account access" on Feb. 7, 2024. She then left for lunch and never returned to work again. On April 14, 2024, Martin was officially terminated from Truist Financial Corporation.
"Repeated attempts" were made to retrieve Martin's work laptop, but she did not turn it over. Instead, she faked her own death.
"On April 17, 2024, in response to an email from Truist asking for the computer, Martin responded, 'Sorry to inform you, she has passed away,'" the DOJ said.
Martin will be sentenced on Nov. 20. She faces up to 30 years in prison -- however, actual sentences for federal charges are typically less than their maximum penalties.
