A family stung by banker's betrayal

To the Fedele family, Susan Barrett was more than just a bank manager.

She became a trusted friend as she cared for the finances of Frank Fedele, the family patriarch, after he suffered two debilitating strokes.

The family was stunned, in 2003, to learn she actually had been stealing hundreds of thousands from Frank Fedele and six other family members.

She even attended Frank's funeral in 2001, then stole money from his accounts later that day, family members said.

"Ms. Barrett was a person we came to know and love and trust," said Michelle Fedele, one of Frank's grandchildren. "She turned that trust into something rotten and evil."

Barrett, 43, of Washington Township, pleaded guilty in June to stealing bank deposits.

She faced sentencing yesterday in federal court in Camden. Lawyers on both sides spent the day arguing over several legal issues, and the sentencing was delayed. A new hearing date was not set.

But, three members of the Fedele family were able to give the court their victim statements.

"I thank God that my dad didn't even know this was happening," said Diane Fedele, one of Frank's daughters. "I feel like my dad can't rest in peace until this is over."

The Fedele family first encountered Barrett in 1997, when she was working at a Commerce Bank branch in Turnersville. She befriended Frank Fedele when he accompanied his granddaughter to inquire about a car loan.

Barrett later became the manager of a Commerce branch in Sicklerville. As Frank Fedele's health deteriorated, he turned over all his finances to Barrett, family members testified.

They didn't discover the thefts until 2003, when Diane Fedele realized $13,000 was missing from her account. Barrett told her it was a bank error.

About a week later, Diane Fedele said Barrett appeared at her house around midnight.

"She told me she would pay me back . . . if I didn't say anything about it," Diane Fedele testified. "She led me to believe also that it was a small amount of money."

Although the total amount stolen remains in dispute, federal probation and parole officials calculated that Barrett stole $656,000 between 1997 and 2003.

When Frank Fedele became debilitated, Barrett often made house calls to go over his finances, and she grew close to the rest of the family.

"I feel like my trust was betrayed in so many ways," said granddaughter Francesca Fedele. "I loved my grandfather so much . . . and Sue loved him, or so we thought."

The Fedeles said Barrett drove a Lexus, had a Shore home in Brigantine, and bought her boyfriend a backhoe for his construction business, all with the proceeds from her thefts.

Commerce Bank has paid the family nearly $454,000, and Barrett will be required to pay restitution to the family.

Frank Fedele was a businessman, developer and entrepreneur who owned car dealerships and real estate companies at different points in his life.

He also owned the Williamstown Pavilion strip mall. He died at the age of 74.

"On the day he took his last breath, on the day of his funeral, she took every opportunity to steal from him," Diane Fedele said.