A former Truist employee stole $195,000 in customer funds while working at the bank and, following her termination, faked her own death to get out of returning her work laptop, according to court documents filed Tuesday with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Ahshah Dior Martin of South Chesterfield, Virginia, has pleaded guilty to bank fraud in the ordeal, the Justice Department said Tuesday.

In 2023 and 2024, Martin initiated fraudulent transfers and withdrawals from at least 70 separate accounts – including churches, a children’s museum, an eye tissue nonprofit and the North Carolina Wing of the Civil Air Patrol – for her own benefit, the DOJ asserted. 

Martin initiated payments numerous times from customer accounts to a child support payment processor, through which she paid herself, according to the DOJ. She then used the money to pay for makeup, clothes, food, travel expenses and tabs at a hookah bar.

In February 2024, management confronted Martin about improperly accessing customer accounts, according to court documents. Following the conversation, Martin left for lunch and never returned to work. Truist cut off her access to its remote systems the following day.

She was officially terminated April 15, 2024. Two days later, when asked by a Truist representative by email to return her laptop, she responded, “Sorry to inform you, she has passed away.”

A Truist spokesperson said the bank cooperated fully with authorities in the investigation into Martin.

“The small number of impacted clients were cared for and made whole,” the spokesperson said.

Martin faces up to 30 years in prison. She will be sentenced Nov. 20.

Martin’s attorney, Carolyn Grady, declined to comment on the matter.