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Press Release

Winchester Woman Pleads Guilty to Embezzling $1 Million from Credit Union

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Virginia

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Donna L. Jennings, 44, of Winchester, pleaded guilty today to charges relating to embezzling over $1 million from Winchester Community Federal Credit Union.

In a statement of facts filed with the plea agreement, Jennings admitted to stealing $1,059,767.52 in funds from Winchester Community Federal Credit Union where she was employed as its manager.  From 2001 through 2014, Jennings took cash from teller drawers, fraudulently opened financial accounts, conducted financial transactions without customers’ knowledge, made false entries into accounting records, and approved loans without authority.  Jennings funneled the proceeds of her fraud into accounts she controlled and used the stolen funds to purchase gifts for herself and pay credit card bills.  When federal bank examiners questioned Jennings about suspicious transactions, she made false statements and altered Board of Director meeting minutes to support her lies.  As a result of Jennings’ conduct, the National Credit Union Administration placed Winchester Community Federal Credit Union into a restricted status and invited another financial institution to merge with it for the protection of its membership and the National Credit Union Administration insurance fund.

Jennings faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison when sentenced on April 8, 2015.  The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Paul M. Abbate, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Uzo Asonye is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:15-cr-358.

Updated December 18, 2015

Topic
Financial Fraud