WINFIELD – A former Putnam County Bank employee claims he was fired when he blew the whistle on a bank scheme to defraud customers through appraisals.
Jeremey G. Heslep filed a complaint against the bank in Putnam Circuit Court. He says he worked for the bank as a credit analyst in the loan operations department until he was fired on April 24.
He says he discovered the bank routinely failed to comply with banking regulations involving rental property. He reported his findings to Stan Coniff and supervisor Mark Billotti.
“Less than 24 hours following plaintiff’s complaints regarding PCB’s noncompliance, PCB terminated his employment,” the complaint states. “PCB’s termination of plaintiff was retaliatory, willful and malicious.”
Heslep claims he has suffered lost wages and benefits. He also seeks damages for indignity, embarrassment, humiliation, annoyance, inconvenience and emotional distress.
He seeks compensatory and punitive damages for lost wages, benefits, back pay, front pay, pre- and post-judgment interest, attorney fees, court costs and other relief.
Heslep is represented b Todd S. Bailess and Joy B. Mega of Bailess Law PLLC in Charleston. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Phillip Stowers.
Putnam Circuit Court case number: 15-C-152
