Vermont Business Magazine The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on July 2, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Myrkel Latroy Staley, 43, of Shelburne, Vermont, with bank fraud. Staley entered a plea of not guilty to the charges during an arraignment on July 14, 2026, before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle. Judge Doyle ordered Staley released on conditions.
According to the indictment, between June 2021 and March 2023, Staley devised a scheme to defraud TD Bank by submitting fraudulent documents in connection with a mortgage loan on a property in Shelburne, Vermont and a home equity loan on the same property. To obtain the loans, Staley submitted fraudulent tax returns to TD Bank.
He also fraudulently obtained $283,000 from another person and used those funds to pay for the downpayment on the Shelburne property. To legitimize the source of funds for the downpayment on the property, Staley submitted additional fraudulent documents to the bank.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Staley is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Staley faces up to 30 years and a $1,000,000 fine, or both, if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.
First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the investigatory efforts of the FBI, the United States Secret Service and the IRS-Criminal Division.
The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Wendy L. Fuller. Staley is represented by Mark Kaplan, Esq.
BURLINGTON – Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont
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Vermont Business Magazine