GEORGIA BUSINESSMAN CHARGED WITH $24 MILLION BANK FRAUD

ATLANTA, Aug. 30 -- The U.S. Department of Justice's Federal Bureau of Investigation Atlanta Field Office issued the following press release:

ATLANTA - Thomas Mwangi, the former owner of a Cartersville, Georgia manufacturing business, was arraigned last week on federal bank and wire fraud charges after allegedly defrauding First Financial Bank ("First Financial") out of more than $20 million.

"Mwangi allegedly conned a bank out of approximately $24 million by forging signatures and fabricating account statements," said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. "Fraudulent loans not only harm banks but also restrict access to credit for honest businesses and individuals. We will work with our law enforcement partners to root out and punish mani...