New York City man accused of taking $2M from account of man with same name

Prosecutors say a Brooklyn man withdrew $2 million from an account after a bank error gave him access to funds managed by a man with the same name.

Benjamin Lovell has been arraigned Tuesday on grand larceny charges. The 48-year-old salesman says he kept trying to tell officials at Commerce Bank that he did not have a $5 million account. But he says they told him it was his account and he could withdraw the money.

Prosecutors say the bank confused Lovell and a man with the same name. They say Lovell has subsequently lost much of the money on bad investments.

A call to Commerce Bank seeking comment was not immediately returned.