Ex-Wells Fargo exec implicated in fake customer account scandal to plead guilty (2024)

A former Wells Fargo Bank executive accused of overseeing a ruse that created millions of bogus customer accounts has agreed to plead guilty to criminal charges likely to send her prison for her role in the scandal.

The agreement filed Wednesday in a Los Angeles federal court calls for the former Wells Fargo executive, Carrie Tolstedt, to serve a 16-month prison sentence for obstructing regulators’ investigation into abusive sales practices that culminated in the bankpaying billions of dollars in fines.Tolstedt, 63, also agreed to pay a $17 million fine in a separate civil settlement with the government that also bans her from working again in the banking industry.

Prosecutors are requesting an April 7 court hearing to review the plea agreement.

Tolstedt was the longtime head of the Wells Fargo’s division responsible for its sprawling network of retail branches, before leaving in 2016 just before evidence of the bank’s abusive sales tactics surfaced. After previously denying any wrongdoing, Tolstedt becomes the first Wells Fargo executive to be held criminally culpable for a scandal that resulted in the firing of 5,300 employees for falsifying bank records and other ethics violations.

San Francisco-based Wells Fargo had previously admitted that its ambitious sales goalshad fostered a culturethat prodded its branch employees to open millions of unauthorized and fraudulent accounts from 2002 to 2016. The U.S. Justice Department alleged Tolstedt — now a resident of Scottsdale, Arizona — knew about the abuses dating back to 2004 and subsequently tried to cover up the misconduct in a memo prepared for regulators looking into the practices in 2015.

“Obstructing an investigation compromises the mission of those seeking the truth, and we will hold accountable any individual who attempts to conceal wrongdoing.” said Acting United States Attorney Joseph T. McNally.

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Ex-Wells Fargo exec implicated in fake customer account scandal to plead guilty (2024)

FAQs

Ex-Wells Fargo exec implicated in fake customer account scandal to plead guilty? ›

Carrie L. Tolstedt, the only executive at the bank to be accused of criminal wrongdoing stemming from its fake-accounts scandal of 2016, agreed this year to plead guilty to obstructing the investigation. Now the judge handling the case must decide how severely she should be punished.

Did the former Wells Fargo executive plead guilty? ›

The former executive, Carrie L. Tolstedt, who was head of retail banking at Wells Fargo, was the only high-ranking executive at the bank to be criminally charged for its misdeeds. She pleaded guilty this year to one criminal charge of obstructing a bank examination.

Did anyone go to jail for the Wells Fargo fake account scandal? ›

None went to prison as a result of the 2008 global financial crisis. Prosecutors had sought a one-year prison term. The actual sentence mirrored Tolstedt's request, and she accepted "full responsibility" for her crime.

Where is Carrie Tolstedt now? ›

On March 15, 2023, Tolstedt pled guilty to obstructing a bank examination, and faces up to 16 months in prison. Tolstedt was ultimately sentenced to three years of probation and six months of home confinement. Tolstedt must also serve 120 hours of community service.

How much will I get from the Wells Fargo lawsuit? ›

For automobile repossessions, compensation is “at least,” but is not limited to, $4,000. For mortgage holders that were unable to modify their mortgages to avoid foreclosure, damages average $24,125 per claimant. For deposit accounts, customers average $100 in damages.

How long did the Wells Fargo executive go to jail for? ›

Former Wells Fargo executive Carrie Tolstedt was sentenced to three years' probation on Friday for her role in the bank's sprawling fake-accounts scandal.

Who was the top executive fired from Wells Fargo? ›

A Wells Fargo executive has been fired for allegedly urinating on a woman mid-flight. Shankar Mishra was on an Air India flight from New York City to India when he allegedly urinated on another passenger on Nov.

Who was responsible for the Wells Fargo scandal? ›

Ms. Tolstedt ran Wells Fargo's banking branches during the years that the bank opened what may have been millions of sham bank accounts, a scandal that burst into public view in 2016 and toppled two successive chief executives.

How many people were fired after the Wells Fargo scandal? ›

On Wells Fargo management

The bank fired approximately 5300 employees between 2011 and 2016 as a result of fraudulent sales, and discontinued sales quotas at its individual branches after the announcement of the fine in September 2016.

Why did Wells Fargo open fake accounts? ›

It seeks at least $5 million for customers who received letters from Wells Fargo about the unwanted products. Wells Fargo's fake accounts scandal surfaced in September 2016, revealing that employees at the San Francisco-based bank had opened millions of fraudulent accounts, often to meet sales goals.

How was the Wells Fargo scandal resolved? ›

Wells Fargo agreed to pay $3 billion in 2020 to resolve claims against the bank and resolve Securities and Exchange Commission proceedings. Last year, the bank agreed to pay $1 billion to settle a class-action lawsuit brought forward by a shareholder group, which alleged the bank mishandled its cleanup of the scandal.

What happened to Wells Fargo's executive? ›

Wells Fargo executive Greg Beckett jumped to his death from bank's Delaware offices - as family say he'd been stressed about work and taking meetings as late as 11pm. A 46-year-old bank executive took his own life leaving his family struggling to comprehend what had driven him to take such drastic action.

How many customers did Wells Fargo lose? ›

Last December, Wells Fargo agreed to pay $3.7 billion to settle Consumer Financial Protection Bureau allegations of consumer abuses involving 16 million accounts. Amid the scandals, the Federal Reserve Board, the nation's top financial regulator, took the extraordinary step of capping Wells Fargo's asset size.

How can I find out if Wells Fargo owes me money? ›

If, for whatever reason, you believe you're owed money and the bank has not yet made contact, you may call Wells Fargo at 844-484-5089, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time. Those who don't receive assistance from the bank may submit a complaint to the CFPB.

Who qualifies for Wells Fargo settlement? ›

The settlement covers more than 16 million Wells Fargo accounts that were subject to “illegal practices, including misapplied payments, wrongful foreclosures, and incorrect fees and interest charges.” CFPB said. Wells Fargo customers from 2011 to 2022 are potentially covered by the settlement.

What laws were broken in the Wells Fargo scandal? ›

The Commission found that Wells Fargo violated Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 thereunder and ordered it to pay a $500 million civil money penalty to the Commission.

What was the verdict in the Wells Fargo USAA case? ›

USAA secured victories against Wells Fargo in 2019 and 2020, when it won two nine-figure judgments against the bank totaling more than $300 million, regarding its mobile check deposit patent-infringement cases.

What was the fine for the Wells Fargo cross selling scandal? ›

The CFPB fined Wells Fargo $100 million on September 8, 2016, for the "widespread illegal practice of secretly opening unauthorized accounts." The order also required Wells Fargo to pay an estimated $2.5 million in refunds to customers and hire an independent consultant to review its procedures.

Did Wells Fargo order to pay $22 million for firing an executive who spoke out about allegations of financial misconduct? ›

Wells Fargo ordered to pay ex-manager $22M in SOX whistleblower case. Wells Fargo must pay more than $22 million to a former senior banking executive who alleged they were retaliated against for blowing the whistle on financial misconduct.

Has Wells Fargo recovered from the scandal? ›

Since the scandal broke, Wells Fargo overhauled its board of directors and management, paid more than a billion dollars in fines and penalties, and has spent eight years trying to show the public that the bad practices are a thing of the past.

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