A Trinity man has pleaded guilty to charges of misappropriating bank funds and embezzlement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida announced Thursday.
Edward L. Jenkinson, 47, admitted to embezzling more than $120,000 while working as a bank officer at Bank 1, an FDIC-insured institution. He also agreed to forfeit $122,004.04, representing the proceeds from his illegal conduct.
According to court documents, Jenkinson worked at a Bank 1 financial center in Tampa, where he was responsible for managing various operations, including the ATM, teller cash drawers, and branch functions. Between March and November 2024, Jenkinson redeemed customer certificates of deposit (CDs) without their knowledge or consent, transferring the funds into customer checking accounts before withdrawing the money. He then issued cashier’s checks payable to himself, which he deposited into his personal accounts.
Jenkinson withdrew most of the funds through frequent cash withdrawals and spent the money on personal expenses, including gambling, paying off personal debts, and buying luxury goods. He also stole approximately $52,000 in cash from the financial center’s ATM and an additional $2,500 from a teller drawer he supervised.
Jenkinson faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison, though a sentencing date has not yet been set.
