DOJ: Owings Mills Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud, Identity Theft

An Owings Mills man who used his position as a truck driver to commit bank fraud and identity theft has accepted a plea agreement for 40 months in prison and full restitution, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland.

Earl Ellington, 33, was convicted of using his position at A & L Foods, a food distribution company, to steal about $40,000 from a Washington, D.C., restaurant and other businesses via accounts at SunTrust Bank, Wachovia Bank, Susquehanna Bank and Bank of America.

From 2006 to March 2010, Ellington used the D.C. restaurant's name, address, bank account numbers, bank routing numbers and other information to withdraw money from its SunTrust Bank account and pay for his family's expenses, according to the Department of Justice. 

He also used several individuals' identifying information to open a bogus account with Capitol One Bank, where he obtained $9,855, and to access a Burke & Herber checking account for $986 to pay his rent.

Evidence includes an incident in which Ellington withdrew $986 from the D.C. restaurant's account to pay his rent at Chase Lea Apartments. He also used its money to pay GEICO and AT&T bills.

The agreement requires Ellington to pay back victims in full for their losses, a total of $51,841. Ellington signed the agreement Feb. 22., according to the release.

The maximum sentence for the crimes under statute is 32 years in prison, $1.25 million in fines and six years of supervision.