A former branch manager with Camden National Bank faces a lawsuit alleging that she stole just under $80,000 from the Maine Contractors and Builders Alliance Inc.
The MCBA filed suit against Christina (Tina) Torres-York on Jan. 21 in Knox County Superior Court for the total funds she allegedly took, as well as court and attorney fees and punitive damages.
According to the suit, Torres-York served as the volunteer treasurer for the nonprofit organization for several years before “she resigned from the post under threat of removal” on Nov. 13, 2009.
During that time, she was employed by Camden National Bank. Torres-York allegedly used her two positions to write herself unauthorized checks totaling at least $58,735.10 from MCBA accounts at Camden National and Bangor Savings Bank, and she made an unauthorized withdrawal of $21,105.45, for a total loss of $79,840.55, according to the suit.
When contacted, Torres-York declined to comment.
According to records of the Waldoboro Business Association, Torres-York was employed at the Waldoboro branch of Union Trust Bank when Camden National acquired the bank in Jan. 2008. Camden National fired Torres-York in Oct. 2009, according to the MCBA suit.
In the company’s 2009 third quarter report, filed on Oct. 27, 2009, they described an investigation into an unnamed employee who allegedly “engaged in improper and unauthorized transactions…involving approximately $850,000.”
According to a lien placed on Torres-York’s property in Knox County, the bank has since filed suit against Torres-York for at least $750,000. The suit itself is sealed.
The lien prevents Torres-York from selling any property she owns in Knox County prior to a decision being made in the suit filed against her by the bank.
Although she could not provide any additional information, Diane Norton, spokeswoman for Camden National, confirmed that the bank has filed suit against Torres-York.
A Maine Sixth District Court judge granted the lien of $750,000 on Nov. 24, 2009, saying that “it is more likely than not that in this action [Camden National Corporation] will recover judgment against the Defendant Christina Torres-York…in an amount not less than $750,000,” according to the order by the judge.
The FBI is still investigating the matter, but there are no criminal charges against Torres-York at this time.
