The former president/CEO of the $27.4 million Parks Heritage Federal Credit Union was sentenced Wednesday to 30 days in a county jail for stealing more than $8,000 from the Glen Falls, N.Y.-based cooperative.
Warren County District Attorney Kate Hogan said Michael D. Howard, 39, pleaded guilty to a third-degree grand larceny felony charge for stealing the credit union's funds from 2010 to 2013.
He also was ordered by Warren County Judge John Hall to pay restitution of $8,070.
Recommended For You
Two employees detected the theft after they found a credit union check that was made payable to a local law firm that Parks Heritage did not use, according to Hogan.
When Howard was questioned about the check payment, he apologized, paid the credit union back and made assurances it would not happen again.
However, credit union employees also found Howard was using credit union funds to pay for his utility, cable television and Internet bills. He also used credit union funds to pay for the services of a landscaper and other contractors. Howard altered the credit union's financial records to conceal his theft.
Howard was fired in December 2013 after the employees discovered the theft and contacted police, she said.
"This would have not been detected but for vigilant oversight by co-workers," Hogan said.
© 2025 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
Peter Strozniak
Credit Union Times reporter covering credit union operations, fraud, M&As, leagues, business continuity, and breaking news.
