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IN CONNECTION WITH FHB SKIMMING INCIDENT
FBI releases photos of suspects in electronic thefts
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- The Federal Bureau of Investigation released these photos of men wanted in connection with the recent electronic thefts from First Hawaiian Bank accounts held by Saipan residents. Surveillance cameras captured the suspects using FHB teller machines at Gualo Rai and Oleai branches last March 6 and 29. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS)
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has released on Saturday 10 photos of individuals wanted by the FBI for questioning in connection to the recent electronic thefts from First Hawaiian Bank accounts held by Saipan residents.
FBI special agent Tom Simon said the FBI believes that the individuals in the photographs may have recently resided on Saipan and may still be on island.
“Anyone with information to provide should leave a message at the Saipan office of the FBI at 670-322-6934 or call local police,” Simon said.
As of yesterday, there was no reply yet from the FBI to inquiry if arrests have already been made. As the photos appeared in social media over the weekend, some people commented that they saw some of the suspects at certain places on the island.
Simon said learning the identities and whereabouts of the men in the photos would be a major break in this case.
“Hopefully someone calls in the tip we need to solve this one,” said Simon who is also FBI Honolulu’s spokesman.
The photos released by the FBI showed four to five individuals, who looked Orientals, used FHB teller machines at Gualo Rai and Oleai branches last March 6 and 29.
FHB stated that card skimming through their ATMs was believed to be the cause of the unauthorized transactions made in various FHB accounts.
Simon said the statutory maximum penalty for bank fraud is 30 years in federal prison.
“The public is reminded that all suspects in criminal cases are regarded as innocent unless or until proven guilty in court,” he added.
The FBI has vowed to arrest the defrauders who victimized several First Hawaiian Bank customers’ accounts on Saipan, causing many, even from other banks, to withdraw their money last Monday, April 4.
