Bank teller accused of stealing $18K from 96-year-old man

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A former bank teller is facing multiple theft charges after he allegedly used CashApp to steal thousands of dollars from a 96-year-old man.

Demeries Brooks, 21, has been charged with theft of property $10,000-$60,000, financial exploitation of an elderly/vulnerable person, identity theft and forgery $10,000-$60,000 after police say he stole over $18,000 from a 96-year-old victim between August and October 2023.

On October 13, 2023, a police report was filed to the Bartlett Police by the power of attorney for the victim. The report claimed that he did not receive his Regions’ bank statements for the months of August and September.

The victim’s power of attorney reached out to Regions Bank to enquire about this. A representative told them that the address on the victim’s bank profile had been changed from his assisted living center to an address on S. Main Street.

The victim said that the address change was fraudulent and they did not authorize anyone to make the change. Regions Bank provided the victim with the bank statements, which revealed numerous fraudulent transactions.

It was revealed that at least the last five fraudulent transactions occurred through CashApp from August 23 to October 2 and totaled approximately $13,000.

Police say this was supported by a records request issued to CashApp which showed the victim’s bank account number linked to the CashApp account.

Investigators continued to review the bank statements and saw an unauthorized transaction on October 3 for $1,357.86 made to Toyota Lease under the name of Demeries Brooks.

A Regions Bank investigator said that Brooks was a recent employee of Regions and worked as a bank teller during the time frame the fraud occurred.

A records request was issued to Toyota who provided a car loan application in Brooks’ name and a payment of $1,357.86 that was made on October 3, utilizing the victim’s bank account. A search of the vehicle’s VIN number showed a 2023 Toyota Camry registered to Brooks.

Investigators also learned that a card was unlawfully opened against the victim’s account on October 5 and three unauthorized transactions were made while using that card.

Police say video surveillance captured Brooks using the card at Kroger to make a cashback withdrawal of $2,000.92 on October 6. Video surveillance also showed Brooks making cashback withdrawals of $1,003.92 and $1,010.00 that same day.

Police say the video surveillance footage was compared to Brooks’ driver’s license and was a positive match.

Brooks allegedly used the victim’s bank account to make approximately $18,375.70 in fraudulent transactions.

WREG reached out to Regions, and they provided the following statement:
“Regions has worked closely with law enforcement in support of the investigation, and we appreciate their diligence in bringing this matter to justice. We deeply value the trust our customers place in us, and if someone violates a customer’s trust, that goes against everything we believe in. We have provided reimbursement to the individual who was impacted, and the former associate, who worked for us briefly, is no longer with the bank. “

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