Former TD Bank Employees of Chinese Heritage Allege Illegal Firings
Five former TD Bank employees of Chinese heritage have come forward alleging that the bank unlawfully terminated their employment following TD’s involvement in a fentanyl-related money laundering scandal. According to court documents, the plaintiffs, Andrew Wong, Ka Po Wong, Anne Louie, April Ng, and Millie Su, claim that TD specifically targeted and disproportionately impacted Chinese and Chinese American employees to appease investigators scrutinizing the bank’s anti-money laundering control issues.
The employees assert that TD went beyond normal investigative procedures by delving into their personal transaction histories, particularly scrutinizing cash exchanges that flowed through their accounts. They argue that Chinese families often rely on personal loans from relatives and friends, a common practice in the Chinese community, with family members frequently gifting funds for significant purchases like homes. However, the investigators allegedly failed to consider these cultural norms.
One instance highlighted by the plaintiffs involved an investigation into a $500 transaction in new bills that Ng received as a gift during Chinese New Year, a traditional custom. Similarly, Su was questioned about a $15,000 cash deposit from family members intended as a down payment gift for a house purchase. Despite providing evidence of the legitimacy of these transactions, all five employees were terminated by TD, with their personal and business accounts closed and future banking with the institution reportedly barred.
Discriminatory Treatment Allegations
According to the plaintiffs, TD had previously leveraged the national origin of its Chinese and Chinese American employees to establish trust within the Chinese community and enhance business relationships. However, during the fentanyl-tied anti-money laundering investigation, these employees were purportedly singled out based on their ethnicity and national origin. They claim to have been unfairly punished for crimes committed by other individuals within the Chinese community, with whom they had no association.
Notably, the lawsuit alleges that in TD’s Chinatown branches in New York City alone, at least 22 employees, predominantly of Chinese descent, faced termination or adverse employment actions during the investigation. The plaintiffs are seeking reinstatement, back pay, and compensation for emotional damages resulting from TD’s alleged discriminatory conduct.
Response and Legal Proceedings
In response to the allegations, a TD spokesperson declined to comment due to the pending litigation. Arthur Schwartz, the attorney representing the plaintiffs, did not provide a statement when approached for comment. The former employees are pursuing legal recourse to address the alleged injustices they faced at the hands of TD Bank.
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