East County

A New York man pleaded guilty Thursday to aiding the fraudulent wire transfer of $800,000 from the New York brokerage firm where he worked to a bank in East County.

U.S. District Judge Judith N. Keep set sentencing for Sept. 1 for Manos Sarantopoulos, 43, who faces 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for interstate transportation of stolen property.

Sarantopoulos, who entered his plea as his trial was about to begin, admitted helping transfer the stolen money from Thompson McKinnon Brokerage firm in New York City to an account at the Valle de Oro Bank in Spring Valley.

The account was maintained by an undercover FBI agent, however, whom Sarantopoulos told he could assist in transferring millions of dollars, Assistant U.S. Atty. William Hayes said.

The defendant was arrested April 13, a week after the transaction, when he arrived in San Diego to pick up his $560,000 share of the stolen proceeds. All of the money was recovered by the FBI.

Authorities believe another brokerage firm employee forged a supervisor’s signature authorizing the transfer. That person has not been arrested, said Hayes, who declined to reveal whether the person’s identity is known.