Bookkeeper from Failed Meriden Credit Union Admits Embezzling More Than $700K, Failing to Pay Taxes
| U.S. Attorney’s Office September 02, 2009 |
Nora R. Dannehy, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MELISSA LALIBERTE, 39, of Wallingford, pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to one count of embezzlement from a federal credit union, and one count of filing a false income tax return.
According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, from January 2004 to May 2008, while employed as a bookkeeper for the Meriden Franco-American Federal Credit Union (MFAFCU) in Meriden, LALIBERTE embezzled approximately $743,768. In pleading guilty, LALIBERTE admitted that she took unauthorized cash from MFAFCU members that was intended to pay down loan balances, made unauthorized withdrawals from the MFAFCU accounts, drew her salary multiple times a month when she was only entitled to be paid once per month and, without authorization, used MFAFCU checks to pay personal expenses. Also, LALIBERTE failed to post cash withdrawals and loans to her and her husband’s share accounts, presented false reports to MFAFCU’s Board of Directors, and falsified deposits to her own account.
On July 16, 2008, the National Credit Union Administration placed MFAFCU into liquidation. At the time of liquidation, MFAFCU served 206 members and had assets of approximately $337,968.
The tax charges stems from LALIBERTE’s failure to pay taxes of approximately $218,103 on the funds that she embezzled.
Judge Bryant has scheduled sentencing for January 12, 2010, at which time LALIBERTE faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years and a fine of up to $1 million. LALIBERTE also must pay restitution in the amount of $743,768 to the National Credit Union Administration, and back taxes, penalties and interest to the Internal Revenue Service.
This matter has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul H. McConnell.