Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

ATM Error Lets Man Take $1.5M, Gamble It Away

Ronald Page faces 15 months in prison

By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 19, 2012 3:32 PM CDT

(Newser) – Ronald Page didn't have much money in his Bank of America account, but on August 1, 2009, he was able to withdraw $312,000—and then, later that day, another $51,727. By August 18, due to a bank error that allowed him to withdraw unlimited amounts of cash, Page had withdrawn a whopping $1,543,104 that he didn't actually have—putting his account into serious overdraft, which finally clued the bank in to what was going on. Page, 55, now faces 15 months in prison after pleading guilty to theft of bank funds, ABC News reports.

From February 2009 until August 2009, Page primarily used the account for gambling, depositing his winnings and withdrawing amounts as high as $50,000, but his average balance between December 2008 and May 2009 was just $100. Indeed, he was at Detroit's Greektown Casino when he first took advantage of the bank error, and most of his withdrawals were at casinos and cashiers in Detroit and Las Vegas. In addition to the prison time, the US Attorney's Office recommends that the court order Page to repay the bank, and that he be prohibited from any type of gambling.

A man walks past a Bank of America ATM.
A man walks past a Bank of America ATM.   (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Check out another Brilliant story: Honeybees Trained to Find Land Mines
67%
Hilarious
4%
Intriguing
10%
Depressing
5%
Brilliant
7%
Scary
7%
Annoying
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 22 comments
HANKHILL
Jun 20, 2012 12:31 PM CDT
dear mr page welcome to the dumb azz of the day club! one big hit like that and gone! but no not you. welcome!
Tology
Jun 20, 2012 4:02 AM CDT
Since when can you withdraw that much from an ATM, I must go to the wrong bank.
Riffran
Jun 20, 2012 2:12 AM CDT
so not only is the guy an idiot, he now a broke ass felon going to the pokey idiot
 

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Timelines   |   POPSUGAR Tech   |   Business Insider   |   HuffPost Entertainment   |   NewsOne