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A federal judge sentenced a Georgia man to 13 months in prison for stealing more than $70,000 from West Virginia's largest credit union.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey in Wheeling also ordered Brandon Rayshawn Watkins, 30, of Douglasville, Ga., last month to pay $70,750 in restitution to the $876 million Bayer Heritage Federal Credit Union and to pay a personal money judgment of $10,050 to the New Martinsville, W. Va.-based financial cooperative, court documents showed.
He pleaded guilty in February to one felony count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
In July and August of 2023, Watkins conspired with Benjamin Britford to steal funds from Bayer Heritage member accounts through ITMs.
According to federal prosecutors, Britford obtained and provided Watkins member account numbers and their personal identifying information. Watkins then withdrew member funds from a Bayer Heritage ITM in New Martinsville.
Legal proceedings are pending against Britford. He has been indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud and bank larceny.
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Peter Strozniak
Credit Union Times reporter covering credit union operations, fraud, M&As, leagues, business continuity, and breaking news.
