Carroll County loan officer charged with identity theft

A popular Carroll County bank employee is scheduled to go before a judge Tuesday.

Consumer investigator Jim Strickland obtained a police report that said an internal audit at Community and Southern Bank in Villa Rica revealed fraudulent dealings.

"It was an employee. Her name is Sherri Hines," District Attorney Pete Skandalakis said. An indictment accuses Hines, 40, of 13 counts of theft and identity fraud.

A long time bank employee, Hines is accused of skimming money from several accounts, and creating other accounts to cover the losses.

"It is a big case. I mean, $50,000 or $60,000 is a lot of money," Skandalakis said.

No one answered when Strickland knocked on Hines' door, despite two vehicles in the driveway.

Later in the afternoon, Strickland met Hines' lawyer.

"She wants people to know that she's not a thief. She did nothing wrong," attorney Mac Pilgrim said.

Pilgrim said Hines had been terminated from the bank before the audit, and that the Department of Labor sided with her and granted unemployment benefits.

Pilgrim hinted that turmoil at a bank that's seen three different owners in recent years could be part of his defense strategy.

"It's been mass turnover, huge turnover at the top end, and we're not sure if it's an internal issue or if someone has framed her to make it look this way or if she's being used as a scapegoat," said Pilgrim.

Branch workers in Villa Rica refused to comment, and Strickland's calls to management in Carrollton were not returned, but the bank released a statement saying, "Protecting our account holders’ information is of the utmost importance at Community & Southern Bank. We are committed to protecting the privacy and security of our customers’ personal and financial information.  Accordingly, while we are assisting local authorities in working to resolve this matter, it is not appropriate for us to publicly comment any further. We are committed to delivering excellent service in all of the communities we serve.”

The prosecutor sees this as a case of a banker acting alone, bilking long-time clients.

"She was there for some time and had developed these friendships and relationships, and they trusted her, and she violated that trust," Skandalakis said.

The sheriff's department reports Hines is free on $25,000 bond.