BENTON, Ark. — Tyra Brown, a 27-year-old woman from Benton, Arkansas, pleaded guilty in federal court on Wednesday to stealing more than $300,000 from customers of a New Hampshire-based credit union. The plea comes after Brown, who worked as a remote customer service agent for the credit union, admitted to using her access to sensitive customer information to commit wire fraud.
According to court records, Brown had access to critical data, including account balances and security question answers, which allowed her to steal $310,674.89 from at least 10 elderly victims. The theft was carried out through wire transfers, electronic debits, and Zelle transactions, funneling the stolen funds into her own accounts. In total, Brown attempted to steal $428,526.84 before being caught.
The case, which was initially handled in New Hampshire, was moved to the Eastern District of Arkansas for trial. Prosecutors highlighted the severity of Brown’s actions, emphasizing the financial harm caused to vulnerable, elderly individuals who were targeted by the fraud.
Brown now faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, along with a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the amount of the financial loss, whichever is greater. As the federal system does not allow for parole, Brown could spend many years behind bars if sentenced to the maximum penalty.
Sentencing for Brown will be scheduled at a later date. This case serves as a stark reminder of the growing threats posed by cybercrime and the vulnerabilities that can arise when individuals are entrusted with sensitive financial information.
As of now, the credit union has not publicly commented on the case, but officials continue to stress the importance of safeguarding personal information in the face of increasing fraud and identity theft risks.