Ridgefield Man Sentenced in $745K Grand Larceny Case

By Alfred Branch (Patch Staff)

A 32-year-old Ridgefield, Conn. man was sentenced to over a year in prison in connection with his role in the theft of $745,000 from the accounts of several customers of TD Bank in Larchmont.

Jeremy Winter pleaded guilty in May to two felony charges, which stemmed from the thefts which began in early 2012. He was arrested by Larchmont Police in early 2013.

Below is the press release about the case from Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore:

Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore announced that Jeremy Winter(DOB 09/03/82) of 51 Douglas Lane, Ridgefield, Connecticut, was sentenced today to 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison on his May 2014 guilty plea to:

• one count of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class “C” Felony,
• one count of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, a class “E” Felony,

regarding the theft of funds from bank depositors.

Winter was employed as a Branch Manager at TD Bank located at 107 Chatsworth Avenue in Larchmont, New York.

Beginning in February of 2012, the defendant began making large transfers of U.S. currency out of several customers’ accounts into his own personal bank account or into a relative’s account totaling $745,000.

The money was used to pay off the defendant’s personal loans and contractors he defendant hired to do home improvements.

In order to avoid detection, the defendant would “rob Peter to pay Paul,” basically take money from a new victim’s account in order to pay back older victims.

The total amount of the larceny that actually ended up in the defendant’s pocket was $365,000.

The defendant also forged a customer’s signature on a withdrawal slip in the amount of $100,000, thereby also creating a false business record.

The bank notified Larchmont Police and in September of 2012 the District Attorney’s Office joined in the investigation.

Winter was arrested by Larchmont Police on February 28, 2013.

As a condition of sentencing, the defendant will pay upfront restitution of $225,000 and there will be a Judgment Order of Restitution for the remainder, $139,600.

Assistant District Attorney Robert Mayes of the Economic Crimes Bureau prosecuted the case.

Photo: Jeremy Winter. Photo credit: Westchester County District Attorney’s office