CLARKSBURG, W. Va. — A former bank executive in Harrison County convicted of fraud has been sentenced to time in federal prison.
John Aman, 60, of Clarksburg will spend 21 months in FCI Morgantown, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
U.S. Senior District Judge Frederick P. Stamp Jr. also ordered Aman to pay restitution totaling $132,355.30, along with forfeiture and the special assessment fee which comes with felonies.
The sentence comes after Aman, a former vice president at Huntington National Bank and West Union Bank, pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud out of an 11 count indictment, which charged him with obtaining loans by abusing the power of attorney designated to him by an elderly in-law.
The original indictment charged him with acquiring nearly $500,000, using the relative’s stock as collateral. When the loans to Freedom Bank were not paid back on time, the stocks were sold.
During the sentencing on Monday, Aman apologized to his family in attendance as well as the banks and the court, saying he was deeply sorry for his actions.
The defense argued he should not have to serve time in prison, stating the sentencing guidelines exaggerated the crime and he and his family had gone through years of civil litigation for the same incident.
Judge Stamp disagreed, claiming no time in prison would sent a “very inappropriate message” based on the severity of the crime.
Aman is currently the general manager of the Central West Virginia Transit Authority. The defense, government and CENTRA have all stated his crimes did not involve his work with the bus service. The CENTRA board stood behind Aman during his legal proceedings, even giving him a raise at one point.
Aman was given the chance to self-report to prison by noon on October 22.