FBI e-mail obtained by WATE 6
OAK RIDGE, Tenn.—Y-12 CU is paying attention to the e-mail the FBI sent last week following the alleged kidnapping of the credit union’s CEO and family at their home, which advised local FIs to use caution and follow all security measures before, during and after the work day.
But the credit union also acknowledged that no matter how vigilant it is, staff can’t always prevent events such as that which happened to its chief, Mark Ziegler, on April 28.
“You mitigate risk as best as you can, but in some cases, despite all mitigation, and all the best practices, sometimes that risk still bites you,” Chris Smith, Y-12 VP of marketing, told CUToday.info. “This case is a good example, because our CEO did nothing to put himself at risk or cause him to look back and say, ‘I wish I would have done something different.’”
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.
The e-mail, in addition to advising employees to take extra precautions, also reminded that the criminals did not succeed in their attempt to extort money from Y-12 Tuesday and “it is possible they may try again.”
Y-12 received the notice through a local security council. While the $780-million Y-12 is being very vigilant, Smith said the CU is not so sure the criminals will strike again locally.
“Of course we now have a heightened sense of risk. We are concerned about his kind of crime because now it has happened to us,” said Smith. “We have always known that when you work around money you are at risk. But until it happens to you, the threat does not seem as real. For us, it’s real now.”
Last week authorities reported that Ziegler and his family were 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 can be found here.