Kesha Kestler, a former accountant for the $1.3 billion Barksdale Federal Credit Union in Bossier City, La., was arrested last week for allegedly stealing nearly 50,000 from dormant accounts, including one of a deceased member, according to the Caddo Parish Sheriff's office.
Kestler, 29, of Shreveport, was in charge of dormant accounts, and she allegedly used her position to steal $49,101 from those accounts by issuing fraudulent checks to herself and wiring money into other accounts, according to police.
The theft was uncovered when the heirs of the deceased member contacted the credit union about the discrepancy.
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In Wisconsin, Linda C. Germann, 57, Onalaska, Wis., a former employee who worked in the accounting department at the $1.3 billion Altra Federal Credit Union was sentenced to three years' probation by U.S. District Judge William Conley in Madison Dec. 7.
She pleaded guilty in September to stealing $14,815 from the Onalaska-based credit union.
Germann used various methods to steal the funds including misappropriation of stale dated cashier's checks; the creation and reimbursement of false debit card losses; the issuance of 'instant issue' automated teller machine cards (debit cards) to obtain account access; the re-issuance of stale dated gift cards, and the utilization of dormant accounts and 'bad address' accounts, according to federal prosecutors.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Conley noted that Germann stole the money to pay gambling debts.
Court documents show Germann paid back the money she stole from the credit union.
In Illinois, Karen S. Buxton, a former employee of the $16.5 million ADM Credit union in Decatur, Ill., is scheduled to be arraigned Dec. 29 for allegedly stealing more than $66,000 from member accounts, according to a local media report.
The theft was exposed after a member victim notified local police.
Buxton allegedly concealed the theft by enrolling members for online banking and had the monthly statements sent to fake email addresses so that the statements would not be emailed to members, the Herald & Review reported.
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Peter Strozniak
Credit Union Times reporter covering credit union operations, fraud, M&As, leagues, business continuity, and breaking news.
