Subject: Accounting Fraud

I, Dennis Greer, am making this statement on my own, without threat or promises, as to my activities in regard to the activity of kiting between Bank A and Bank B. Before the fraud, I was having extreme emotional and financial difficulties. For religious reasons, I was required without notice to move out of where I was living, and I had no place to go. Also, my grandmotherthe only family member I was close towas dying. I had to live out of my car for three weeks. At the end of this time, my grandmother died. She lived in Ohio; I went to the funeral and returned with a $1,000 inheritance. I used this money to secure an apartment. The entire sum was used up for the first months rent, deposit, and application fee. From that time, mid-June, until the first part of August, I was supporting myself on my minimum-wage job at the nursery. I had no furniture or a bed. I was barely making it. I was feeling very distraught over the loss of my grandmother and problems my parents and brother were having. I felt all alone. The first part of August arrived, and my rent was due. I did not have the full amount to pay it. This same week, I opened a checking account at Bank B. I intended to close my Bank A account because of a lack of ATMs, branches, and misunderstanding. As I said, my rent was due, and I did not know how to meet it. On an impulse, I wrote the apartment manager a check for the amount due. I did not have the funds to cover it. I thought I could borrow it, but I could not. During the time I was trying to come up with the money, I wrote a check from my Bank B account to cover the rent check and put it into Bank A. I did not know it was illegal. I knew it was unethical, but I thought since the checks were made out to me that it wasnt illegal. This went on for about a weekback and forth between banks. I thought I could get the money to cover this debt, but I never did. My grandmothers estate had been quite large, and I expected more money, but it was not to happen. After a week of nothing being said to me by the banks, I began to make other purchases via this method. I needed something to sleep on and a blanket and other items for the apartment. I bought a sleeper sofa, a desk, a modular shelf/bookcase, and dishes and also paid off my other outstanding debtscollege loans, dentist bill, and credit. I was acting foolishly. No one had questioned me at the banks about any of this. I usually made deposits at different branches to try to avoid suspicion, but when I was in my own branches, no one said a thing. I thought maybe what I was doing wasnt wrong after all. So I decided to purchase a new car, stereo, and a new computer to use at home for work. Still, I did not have a problem making deposits at the banks. But, I was feeling very guilty. I knew I needed to start downsizing the debt and clear it up. I began to look for a better-paying job. Finally, last week I got a call from Bank B while I was at work. They had discovered a problem with my account. I realized then that the banks had found out. Later that day, I got another call from Bank A. They told me that what I had been doing was illegal and a felony. I was in shock. I didnt know it was that bad. I realize now how wrong what I did was. From the start, I knew it was unethical, but I didnt know it was indeed a crime until now. I have had to do a lot of thinking, praying, and talking to those close to me about this. I am truly sorry for what I have done, and I dont ever plan to do it again. All I want now is to make amends with the banks. I do not have the money to pay back either bank right now. I realize this hurts them. I want to try to set this right, whether I go to prison or not. I am prepared to work however long it takes to pay the banks back in full with reasonable interest from a garnishment of my wages from now until the full amount is paid and settled. I committed this act because I was feeling desperate. I was emotionally a wreck and physically tired. I felt I didnt have a choice but to do what I did or return to living in my car. I know now that what I did was wrong, and I am very sorry for it. I am attempting to seek psychological counseling to help me deal with and resolve why I did this. I feel I have a lot to offer society, once I am able to clean up my own life and get it straightened out. I pray the bank employees and officers will forgive me on a personal level for the hardship my actions have caused them, and I want to make full restitution. I have done wrong, and I must now face the consequences. This statement has been made in my own words, by myself, without threat or promise, and written by my own hand.

After reading Denniss situation do you believe that he should receive the maximum punishment available? Or do you believe that his honesty (once the fraud was discovered), his unusually difficult circumstances, and repentant attitude should allow him to receive some leniency? Why or why not?