ATTORNEY Matthew Hyatt, who represented former National Commercial Bank (NCB) employee Khadene Thomas, says he and his client are disappointed with the 24-month sentence she received for stealing a total of $74.5 million from three of the bank’s customers.

Thomas, who was a wealth advisor at NCB’s Ocho Rios branch, was sentenced to 24 months at hard labour for uttering forged documents, and 12 months for larceny as a servant in St Ann’s Bay Parish Court on Thursday.

The sentences will run concurrently.

“I am disappointed and Miss Thomas is also disappointed,” Hyatt stated.

“She received a custodial sentence; I had pleaded for a suspended sentence. The judge, using her discretion, gave her a 30 per cent discount, taking into consideration the good social inquiry report and the fact that she has no previous convictions,” Hyatt told the
Jamaica Observer.

In February, Thomas pleaded guilty of fleecing three of NCB’s customers of millions whilst being a wealth advisor. She admitted to three counts of larceny as a servant and 31 counts of uttering forged documents.

She got a discount on her sentence because she pleaded guilty at her first chance, Hyatt explained.

Thomas has already repaid to NCB US$100,000 of the US$400,000 that was stolen.

Thomas was charged under The Cybercrimes Act in 2023. It was revealed in court that during her two-year tenure managing the company’s wealth portfolios she forged clients’ signatures on a debit instrument, debited their accounts, and transferred funds to several accounts, including hers.

According to Hyatt, the 36-year-old is remorseful and has taken full responsibility for her actions.