Judge in bank embezzlement case recuses himself

A judge has recused himself from the case of a local banker charged with embezzling millions of dollars.
The judge said he had a conflict.


Federal prosecutors accused Christopher Boston, a former vice president at the Fifth Third Bank in Mandarin, Florida of embezzling more than $10.5 million from accounts and using the cash to fund loans for bank customers previously denied loans.


Boston faced up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine.


In March, Boston signed off on a plea deal with the state.  If approved by the new judge, Boston would pay $2.2 million in fines and forfeit his assets, but see no jail time for pleading guilty to bank fraud.