Ex-VP of Fifth Third Bank pleads guilty to taking bribes

Eric Morton set to be sentenced in September after being convicted of scheming to get commercial loans passed

DETROIT – Eric Morton was a vice president at Fifth Third Bank. But now, he's pleaded guilty to accepting cash bribed to help get risky million-dollar loans approved.

Morton was one of a handful of people who were charged last year on allegations they devised a scheme to get millions on commercial loans for straw buyers.

Businessman Sam Nazzal, who operated G&S Development, is accused of working with Morton to take bribes between 2003 and 2008 to get those loans passed.

Morton has pleaded guilty to taking $20,000.

As part of the deal, Morton will only do about three years in prison. His sentencing is set for Sept. 10.

Nazzal has until October to decide whether to cut a deal or go to trial. Â