Former Community State Bank Loan Officer Sentenced to 24 Months in Prison Following Conviction for Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud

DES MOINES, IA—Brian Williams, the former senior lender for Ankeny-based Community State Bank, was sentenced today to 24 months’ imprisonment for his role in a bank fraud conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. The fraudulent scheme involved former Michigan and NBA basketball player Rumeal Robinson, who was sentenced to 78 months’ imprisonment in January 2011, for his role in the offense.

Williams admitted to accepting a $100,000 kickback from Robinson in exchange for making a loan and committing various other forms of fraud designed to help Robinson obtain money. Williams expected to benefit from many of the transactions and eventually became heavily involved in one of Robinson’s fledgling business projects. Williams never disclosed his conflict of interest to Community State Bank and instead took steps internally to keep the loans—most of which were never repaid—from attracting the attention of bank management.

United States District Judge Ronald E. Longstaff imposed the sentence, which also includes five years of supervised release following Williams’ prison term and restitution of nearly $2 million. Judge Longstaff indicated that Williams’ 24-month sentence was shorter than it otherwise would have been because of Williams’ cooperation and testimony during the Robinson trial.

U.S. Attorney Klinefeldt said the prison sentence should send a message to bank officers who are tempted to take advantage of their positions. “If a bank insider commits fraud, we will do everything in our power to ensure a sentence of imprisonment,” he said. “Bank officers are in a unique position of trust in our communities, and they need to act accordingly.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the offenses and provided considerable assistance in the prosecution of the case.