Former Cooper Bank President Headed To Federal Prison

The Eastern District of Texas acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjel announced that the court sentenced a former bank president.

Anita Gail Moody, 57, of Cooper, Texas, pleaded guilty on June 5, 2020, to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and arson and was sentenced to 96 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant, III. Moody has additionally agreed to pay restitution of $11,136,241.82.

According to information presented in court, on May 11, 2019, while Moody was President of Enloe State Bank in Cooper, Texas, the bank suffered a fire that investigators later determined arson. Firefighters contained the fire to the bank’s boardroom. However, the entire bank suffered smoke damage. Investigation revealed someone purposefully stacked several files on the boardroom table, which the fire burned. Notably, the bank was scheduled for a review by the Texas Department of Banking the very next day.

Further investigation revealed Moody had created false nominee loans in several people’s names, including actual bank customers. Moody eventually admitted to setting the fire in the boardroom to conceal her criminal activity concerning the fraudulent loans. She also admitted to using the fraudulently obtained money to fund her boyfriend’s business, other businesses of friends, and her lifestyle. The fraudulent activity, which began in 2012, resulted in a loss to the bank of approximately 11 million dollars.

“Criminal conduct that affects the financial health of a small, local lender can send a negative ripple effect throughout the entire community,” said Acting United States Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. “The Eastern District of Texas will vigorously prosecute cases, such as the one here, that undermine public confidence in our local banks. We are also deeply appreciative of the excellent investigative work of the FDIC Office of the Inspector General and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives in bringing this matter to a close.”

Jeannie Swaim, who served as vice president of Enloe State Bank and was also involved in fraudulent conduct, was previously sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment and agreed to pay restitution for $410,675.18.

The FDIC-OIG and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated this case and Assistant United States Attorneys Maureen Smith and Wes Wynne prosecuted.