Former Regions Bank Manager Sentenced to 30 Months for Embezzlement and Bank Fraud Scheme

United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles sentenced Eric Jason Schouest, age 53, of Plaquemine, Louisiana, to 30 months in federal prison following his convictions for embezzlement and bank fraud.  The Court further sentenced Schouest to serve two years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment and ordered Schouest to pay $86,375.89 in restitution.

Schouest was employed at Regions Bank from 2010 to 2021 as a branch manager overseeing business transactions and practices at the Regions Bank Plank Road branch.  In his capacity as branch manager, he had the authority to access customer accounts, instruct others to open and close accounts, issue cashier’s checks, and transfer funds in and out of customer accounts.

Schouest exploited his position of trust at Regions Bank to embezzle funds from customers and deposit the money into his personal bank accounts.  He also sent false and fraudulent emails and forged documents to conceal his scheme from other Regions Bank employees.  Some of the traceable fraudulent funds were used to make loan payments on personal items such as a house and a car.  Through his scheme, Schouest misappropriated more than $250,000 from Regions customer accounts.

This matter was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, the United States Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and the U.S. Secret Service, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Edward H. Warner, who also serves as Deputy Criminal Chief.