NCUA Media Release

NCUA Issues Prohibition Orders

 

Alexandria, Va., January 26, 2010 – The National Credit Union Administration Board

has issued orders prohibiting the following individuals from participating in the affairs of

any federally insured financial institution.

Brenda Alexander, a former employee of the merged TRICARE Federal Credit Union, Newark, New Jersey, without admitting or denying fault, consented to an order of prohibition to avoid the time and cost of administrative litigation.

Becky Joyce Hughes, a former employee of Wiregrass Federal Credit Union, Dothan, Alabama, was convicted of misapplication of credit union funds and sentenced to 15 months in prison, 5 years supervised probation and ordered to pay $138,318 in restitution.

Charice Kaahanui, a former employee of Leahi Federal Credit Union, Honolulu, Hawaii, was convicted of bank fraud and sentenced to 14 months in prison, 5 years supervised release, and ordered to pay $26,980 in restitution.

Steven Long, a former employee of Citizens Federal Credit Union, Midland, Texas, was convicted of theft and ordered to pay $3,200 in restitution.

Steven Pennington, a former manager of the merged First Future Credit Union, San Diego, California, without admitting or denying fault, consented to an order of prohibition to avoid the time and cost of administrative litigation.

Ana Santana, a former employee of the merged TRICARE Federal Credit Union, Newark, New Jersey, without admitting or denying fault, consented to an order of prohibition to avoid the time and cost of administrative litigation.

Henry L. Slootmaker, a former employee of Peoples First Choice Federal Credit Union, Glen Rock, New Jersey, without admitting or denying fault, consented to an order of prohibition to avoid the time and cost of administrative litigation.

Crystal L. Smith, a former employee of Bluegrass Community Federal Credit Union, Ashland, Kentucky, was convicted of unauthorized use of an access device with intent to defraud. Smith was sentenced to 57 months imprisonment; 5 years supervised probation and ordered to pay $178,709 in restitution.

Emily Vanterpool-Charles, a former employee of St. Thomas Federal Credit Union, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, was convicted of embezzlement and ordered to serve 2 years in prison, with all but 6 months suspended, and placed on supervised probation for 2 years.

Betty Lee Wing, former vice chairman of New England Lee Federal Credit Union, Boston, Massachusetts, was convicted of larceny and filing false reports in relation to employment at the Massachusetts Department of Public Safety, and is therefore prohibited from being affiliated with or participating in the affairs of any federally insured depository institution.

NCUA enforcement orders are online at http://www.ncua.gov/Resources/AdministrativeOrders/Orders.aspx, and may be inspected at NCUA’s Office of General Counsel between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Copies may be ordered by mail from NCUA, 1775 Duke St., Alexandria, Va. 22314-3428.

Violation of a prohibition order is a felony offense punishable by imprisonment and a fine of up to $1 million.

The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) is the independent federal agency that charters and supervises federal credit unions. NCUA, with the backing of the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, operates the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUSIF), insuring the deposits of over 90 million account holders in all federal credit unions and the vast majority of state-chartered credit unions. NCUA is funded by credit unions, not tax dollars.