Timothy Richard Brink

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — An Elkhart man has been arrested after using the internet to remove funds from a business account.

Timothy Richard Brink, 28, 116 N. Sixth St., Elkhart, was arrested Tuesday evening, Jan. 16, on charges of fraud on a financial institution, a level 5 felony; and theft, a level 6 felony. He is being held on $5,250 surety and cash bond.

The affidavit of probable cause, filed Jan. 8, states the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department was notified by officials with Lake City Bank a client, Tyler Stewart, doing business as Satellite Industries of an account being accessed by an unauthorized person.

According the Lecia Derrossett, client protective service manager with the bank, Stewart advised his account had been accessed and a person had taken over his internet banking, removing funds from the account. Stewart advised he believed it was Brink, a former employee, who had obtained a bank card and used it to access the account.

Derrossett told police she investigated the complained and found Dec. 11, 2017, the account had $1,850 removed and Brink had called into the call center and had the telephone number and email address changed on the account. This allowed Brink to remove the money.

Stewart told police when Brink and he were working together, Brink had taken his bank card from his wallet. Additionally he stated Brink had called him and requested his home address to send him a Christmas card, which is how Brink got Stewart’s address. Stewart was also able to identify Brink as the caller to the one call center.