Bank worker charged with pilfering accounts

BRICK TOWNSHIP - A township man could face up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine if he is convicted of bank fraud.

Nazeem Patel, 38, also known as Nazeem Van Steen, was arrested April 17 by U.S. Postal inspectors at his home, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

U.S. Magistrate Judge John J. Hughes, sitting in Trenton, released Patel on $250,000 bail pending his trial. He was charged with one count of bank fraud.

Patel, an employee of a Sovereign Bank branch in Brick Township, repeatedly accessed the accounts of three bank customers between Feb. 22 and April 6, according to a complaint filed by the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Patel accessed the accounts on a computer, using Sovereign Bank's online banking services. Checks were generated made out to Patel and a number of high-end jewelry merchants during the computer access, the complaint states.

Patel was employed by the bank from Feb. 5 through March 8. He was fired from his position on March 8, the complaint states.