Federal Reserve info leaker pleads guilty

A former Federal Reserve bank examiner has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanour, admitting leaking confidential information to a Goldman Sachs employee that led to a $50 million penalty against the firm.

Jason Gross entered the plea in Manhattan federal court Wednesday to a theft of information charge.

He admitted giving information in August 2014 to former supervisor Rohit Bansal, who was working at Goldman Sachs. Bansal is scheduled to enter a plea Thursday. Bansal’s attorney, E. Scott Morvillo, declined comment.

Prosecutors say the documents were used at Goldman Sachs to assist it with client banks.

Goldman Sachs agreed last week with New York State regulators to pay the penalty.

The investment bank says in a statement that it fired two employees after discovering and reporting the issue to authorities.