Ga. banker missing - and so is $17 million

Aubrey Price is charged with embezzling $17 million from Montgomery Bank & Trust in Georgia. / AP Photo/Hyosub Shin, AJC

(CBS/AP) AILEY, Ga. -- A South Georgia bank closed by federal regulators has a missing board member who's accused of millions in fraud.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. said it seized Montgomery Bank & Trust in Ailey on Friday. The U.S. attorney's office said missing director Aubrey Lee Price, 46, has been charged with wire fraud involving the embezzlement of $17 million from the bank. Price controlled the bank's investments before disappearing last month. He was last seen on a ferry leaving Key West, Florida, for Fort Myers.

"According to the complaint charging him with wire fraud, defendant Aubrey Lee Price disappeared after telling acquaintances that he had lost a large amount of money through trading activities and that he planned to kill himself," the U.S. attorney's office said in a statement released last week.

If proven guilty, Price could face up to 30 years in prison.

The FDIC said Montgomery Bank was acquired by Moultrie-based Ameris Bank and its two branches will reopen Monday. Ameris is assuming all of the bank's $164 million in deposits and the FDIC is retaining the bulk of the failed bank's $173 million in assets.

The public is being urged to contact the FBI with any information at [phone], or at [e-mail].

[jeannutson]

Corruption and embezzlement of funds by officials and executives of companies that are rapidly being revealed and discovered shows how deep the global economic crisis is and how very difficult it is to be curtailed.

[tekmom72]

"The public is being urged to contact the FBI with any information at [phone], or at [e-mail]."

Too bad there's no picture. He's headed to my area, but no idea what he looks like, so he'll just blend in with the other 1%ers.

[ammo17]

$17,000,000 i`m surprised this made the news.small potatoes,if wall street can get away with $billions,why shouldn`t this little banks be allowed to steal millions.our government lets them get away with stealing.this guy only stole a little bit.give him a break.

[KPeters_from_UK]

by TheKritik July 9, 2012 6:26 PM EDT
The jew won't kill himself.If he's stupid enough to stay in the u.s.he'll be found.

by ObamasGuppies July 9, 2012 9:14 PM EDT
Does this guy know that this money was printed by Muslim Obama and it's worhtless. It will be the first time in history that cash will actually bounce.


by AndWereBack July 9, 2012 8:54 PM EDT
Look under Obama's bed.

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The mentality of the GOP. And you really want these people in power?

[KPeters_from_UK]

Enough said. Sick.

[r9119111]

Bankers: How can I trust you ever again. I feel betrayed by the bankers just like I feel betrayed by the Republican Party and Mitt Romney.

I'm still voting for President Obama as an Independent voter.

[knewsteerrrrr]

LOL he's probably on a beach in Aruba sitting under an umbrella enjoying himself by now with his $17 million cash.

[cbs_bull]

Another one from the 1% has gone nuts? Good job to screw the customers by stealing their hard earned money....

[knewsteerrrrr]

They's FDIC insured anyway.

[ObamasGuppies]

Does this guy know that this money was printed by Muslim Obama and it's worhtless. It will be the first time in history that cash will actually bounce.

[littleM]

As a shill for the banking industry, let me assure you that this man and his industry are as pure as the driven snow. It's true, and if you'd ever been in a blinding white-out during a blizzard, then you would agree.

[Bush-cheney-R-Terrorists]

Just calm down everyone. I'm sure there's a perfectly good explanation. It might just be a coincidence. Did they double check? Look behind the coffee table in the break room. He looks like a nice man. If we all pitch in a few thousand...