Former Evansville Banker Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing Over $158,000 from Customer Accounts

EVANSVILLE- Dekoda Scott Clark, 32, of Tell City, Indiana, has been sentenced to 2.5 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to bank theft and access device fraud. Clark must also pay $158,208.53 in restitution to the bank he defrauded.

According to court documents, between January 2023 and March 2024, Dekoda Clark was employed as a Relationship Banker at a bank branch in Evansville. During this time, Clark exploited his position to steal approximately $158,208.53 from customer accounts by making unauthorized cash withdrawals and issuing fraudulent debit cards.

Leveraging his access, Clark created debit cards linked to the checking accounts of five individuals and two businesses without their knowledge or consent. He then used these cards to make 17 purchases at various retailers, including Dicks Sporting Goods, Guitar Center, and Best Buy. Several of the purchases were for high-value technology items, including three Apple iPads, a MacBook Pro, an Apple Watch Ultra, two large televisions, a Lenovo gaming laptop, memory cards, a DJI Mini Drone, and an Xbox game drive. One of the transactions was for a $2,000 deposit into Clark's account with Draft Kings, an online sports betting platform. These fraudulent purchases totaled $15,708.53.

Clark also withdrew a total of $142,500 as cash from the checking accounts of three individuals without their knowledge or consent.

"Bank employees are entrusted with safeguarding their customers' hard-earned money, not exploiting that trust for personal gain," said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. "Clark not only harmed individual victims but also undermined confidence in the financial system. This sentence, and the restitution he now owes, reflects the serious consequences of betraying that trust, and the level of accountability our office will seek for those who exploit their positions to defraud the public."

"Instead of serving his bank's customers, Dekoda Clark lavishly served himself by illegally taking their money to pay for video game systems and other expensive tech gadgets," said Ike Barnes, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service's Indianapolis Field Office. "The U.S. Secret Service is committed to safeguarding the nation's financial infrastructure and pursuing this type of malfeasance. I am proud of our work in this case, and I want to thank the FBI, Evansville Police Department and the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Southern District of Indiana for their efforts in bringing justice to this defendant."

"This sentence demonstrates that those who abuse positions of trust for personal gain will be held accountable," said Timothy O'Malley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Indianapolis. "By stealing more than $158,000 from customer accounts, this defendant not only violated the law, but also the confidence placed in her by both her employer and the community. The FBI remains committed to protecting the integrity of our financial institutions and pursuing those who commit fraud and theft."

The U.S. Secret Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Evansville Police Department investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young.

U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew B. Miller, who prosecuted this case.

###