WENDELL BASS BEGINS PRISON TERM IN $500,000 EMBEZZLEMENT CASE

DEFENDANT PLEADED GUILTY TO RIPPING OFF UPSCALE BUCKHEAD HIGH-RISE

Atlanta-Fulton County District Attorney Paul L. Howard, Jr. (Atlanta Judicial Circuit) announces that, following his guilty plea in October, Wendell Jesse Bass (37) began serving a five-year prison sentence this week for the theft of over $500,000 from The Wakefield; an exclusive, co-operative high-rise in Buckhead. Bass pleaded guilty to five counts of theft by taking by fiduciary (i.e. theft by abusing a position of trust).

Judge Alford Dempsey sentenced Bass to 30 years (five of which are to be served in prison). He was ordered to make restitution of $228,000 and submit a letter of apology to the victims. During his 25-year probation, Bass must adhere to numerous strict guidelines. He may not be employed in any capacity in which he would hold a position of financial trust nor may he work in the financial management field. He may not obtain new credit or use anyone else's credit cards without permission from his probation officer. He must submit a sworn affidavit of his assets, giving a full accounting of all money and property stolen. He is required to provide full financial disclosure every six months; may not make any purchases over $1,000 without permission from his probation officer; and may not possess any firearms or non-prescription drugs. Additionally, he must pay a fine of $5,000.

Bass started at The Wakefield as a doorman and was eventually promoted to general manager of the property. Evidence gathered by the District Attorney's White Collar Crime Unit showed that, between September 1999 and August 2003, Bass employed a number of creative means to embezzle money from the co-op's residents-many of whom are elderly-and its management. He forged checks payable to himself, secured an unauthorized bank debit card from a co-op account for his personal use, issued double paychecks to himself, and paid for personal items using vendor accounts. All totaled, he stole more than $500,000.

Chief Senior Assistant District Attorney Brad Malkin prosecuted the case.

CONTACT: Erik Friedly, 404-224-0560 (office); 404-533-1381 (pager)