Couple returns from vacation to find $400,000 stolen from bank account, feds say

A 27-year-old Texas man is facing prison time after pleading guilty to stealing money from a Maine couple as they vacationed, federal officials said.

In August 2022, Kyle Lawless Pollar is accused of calling the bank and posing as the account holder, asking personnel about the account balance and if the contact phone number and email address could be updated, according to a Jan. 14 news release by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine.

In October 2022, the investigation was launched after the couple reported nearly $400,000 stolen from their account, officials said.

When they returned from vacation, they weren’t able to log into their bank accounts, prompting them to call the bank to reset their passwords, officials said.

That’s when they saw multiple wire transfers on the statement, prosecutors said.

Over a two-week period, Pollar made several transfers from the couple’s home equity line of credit to savings accounts, officials said.

A transfer of $360,880 was sent to Pollar’s account, the release said.

Another $66,000 was sent to a jeweler in Texas, officials said.

He then withdrew the funds in cash and cashier’s checks, the release said.

McClatchy News reached out to Pollar’s lawyer for a statement on Jan. 15 and was awaiting a response.

Pollar pleaded guilty to four counts of wire fraud and is facing up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, followed by up to three years of supervised release, officials said.

He will also have to pay restitution to the victims, officials said.

This story was originally published January 15, 2025 at 12:03 PM with the headline "Couple returns from vacation to find $400,000 stolen from bank account, feds say."