Former President of Waterbury Credit Union Sentenced to 21 Months in Prison for Embezzling $254K

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TARA KEWALIS, 51, of Beacon Falls, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to 21 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for embezzling from a Waterbury credit union where she was employed.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Kewalis was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Skyline Financial Federal Credit Union located in Waterbury. From approximately September 2016 until her employment was terminated in March 2021, Kewalis used her position to access the credit union’s accounting system to create fraudulent accounts, make fraudulent entries, and steal $254,532 in credit union funds.

Kewalis has paid restitution of $254,532, but may be required to pay additional restitution to reimburse expenses incurred by the credit union during the investigation and prosecution of this criminal matter.

On December 7, 2022, Kewalis pleaded guilty to embezzlement by a credit union officer or employee.  She has been detained since July 17, 2023, when her bond was revoked after she was found to have violated the conditions of her release.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. McGarry.