OAK RIDGE, Tenn.—The FBI has issued a warning to all bank and credit union employees in at least one Tennessee market to use caution and follow all security measures before, during and after the workday in the wake of an extortion, robbery attempt and kidnapping of a Y-12 Federal Credit Union executive at his home.
The warning is in line with concerns CUToday.info first reported regarding criminals increasingly targeting FI executives in their homes as a means of extorting money. The earlier interview with an expert from CUNA Mutual on this security issue can be found here.
CUToday.info’s initial report followed allegations of a similar hostage-taking robbery involving the CFO of Achieve Financial Credit Union in Connecticut in February.
The FBI warning, obtained by WATE 6 here, was apparently sent via e-mail to local banks and credit unions. It is not clear how widely the e-mail was distributed. CUToday.info spoke with both Y-12 and the FBI but neither organization was prepared to offer comment.
The e-mail, in addition to advising employees to take extra precautions, also reminded that the criminals did not succeed in their attempt to get Money Tuesday and “it is possible they may try again.”
Tuesday, authorities reported that the CEO of Y-12 Credit Union, Mark Ziegler, and his family were reportedly held hostage in their home as part of an attempted robbery and extortion plot. Authorities here are looking for three suspects—two men and a woman—who have been accused of bank robbery, kidnapping and extortion. The FBI, the Oak Ridge Police Department and the Knox County Sherriff’s Office are all involved.
According to the FBI, at approximately 8:15 Tuesday morning Ziegler and his family were confronted at their home in West Knoxville by the three suspects as part of an attempt to obtain money from the credit union’s Oak Ridge, Tenn. branch. According to the FBI, the family members were released about 9:25 a.m. in the parking lot of Gettysvue Country Club, which is four miles north of the Ziegler's home. Local media reported that forensic technicians were on site at the home throughout the day.
Additional details regarding events that unfolded Tuesday morning have been shared by WATE 6.
Details on what precisely occurred at Y-12 Credit Union remain sketchy.
WATE 6 reported that local resident, Tonia Killian, was the first to learn of the abduction. Apparently, after the family was released, they pulled into Killian’s residence asking for help.
Killian told WATE 6 that she was planting flowers around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday when a gold Lexus drove into her driveway. “A young man jumped out of it and started yelling, ‘Call 911! We’ve been abducted! We need help! Call 911!” said Killian.
The young man’s mother then got out of the back of the car.
“She was still bound with duct tape around her wrists,” Killian told WATE 6.
Killian said the woman explained she was the wife of Y-12 Federal Credit Union CEO Mark Ziegler and that she and her son had been abducted after two men and a woman had broken into their home.
“They were wanting money from the bank, from Y-12. They were threatening the mother with things they might do to her if he didn’t oblige their wishes,” Killian quoted the woman as saying..
The Oak Ridge branch of Y-12 Credit Union office was shuttered following the robbery attempt. The branch was also locked down with no employees allowed to exit the building while the investigation was taking place. The office will be open today, according to the CU’s website.
Chris Smith, vice president of marketing for Y-12 Federal Credit Union, told the Knoxville News Sentinel that employees reported to work Wednesday at the Oak Ridge branch, although the office was closed.
“It was a chance to let the dust settle and give our employees an opportunity to decompress from the situation,” Smith said. “The plan was to open tomorrow (Thursday) on a regular schedule.”
The FBI when contacted by CUToday.info did not have any new information to reveal. Y-12’s stated on its website that its Oak Ridge facility will operate during normal hours today.
The Y-12 Credit Union robbery attempt follows allegations of a similar hostage-taking robbery at Achieve Financial Credit Union in Connecticut in February. In that case CFO Matthew Yussman has alleged that he was confronted in his home by robbers who forced him to wear a bomb vest and drive to his credit union to get money. Yussman called the credit union’s CEO, and police intervened before any money was ever stolen. Yussman escaped unhurt; the alleged robbers remain on the loose and no arrests have been made. That investigation is ongoing.
CUToday.info has coverage of that story here along with a related interview here on whether such home abduction/robberies might be a growing threat.