Opinion ID: 222704
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: In February 2009, Benner was approached by Andres Parra, an indicted coconspirator, who asked Benner if he had a contact at Bank of America who could help unfreeze two accounts at that bank. Benner told Parra that one of his business contacts, Adriana Benitez Cruz, had a contact at Bank of America. Benner then contacted Cruz and asked if she had any contacts at Bank of America who could assist in unfreezing the accounts. Cruz had been arrested in December 2008 on unrelated bank fraud charges. Although Cruz did not inform Benner that she had been arrested, Benner testified that Maria Alejandra Santin, a co-worker, told him in January of 2009 that Cruz was working for the FBI. After Benner’s initial call to Cruz, he frequently called and texted Cruz to 2 ask when a meeting with a Bank of America employee could be arranged. At some point Benner told Cruz that there would be a commission for her and for the bank in unfreezing the accounts. On March 11, 2009, Cruz decided to cooperate with the FBI in her own bank fraud case, and she also told the FBI about Benner’s proposal. On March 17, 2009, at the FBI’s direction, Cruz informed Benner that a Bank of America employee named Liz Diaz would unfreeze the accounts in exchange for three to five thousand dollars. Diaz was actually undercover FBI Special Agent Liz Santamaria. Benner then contacted Parra and instructed him to meet Diaz at the Bank of America branch and time provided by Cruz, and Benner informed Cruz that Parra would meet, “give a little bit of money,” and exchange envelopes with Diaz. Benner admitted in his post-arrest statement that he told Parra on the date the bribe was consummated to take $2,000 to the bank. Parra ultimately gave Diaz $2,000 at the designated Bank of America branch in exchange for four cashier’s checks representing the money in the two frozen accounts which totaled $681,502.