For the second time this year, federal prosecutors in Clevelandbrought felony charges against an Ohio man for allegedly embezzling$2.3 million in a massive fraud case that led to the collapse ofthe $23.6 million Taupa Lithuanian Credit Union in Cleveland in July 2013.

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John Struna, 51, of the Cleveland suburb of Concord Township,was indicted Wednesday on one count each for conspiracy to commitbank fraud, bank fraud, and making false statements, according tocourt documents. He also was indicted on four counts of moneylaundering.

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In January, prosecutors originally charged Struna with only onecount of conspiracy to commit theft or embezzlement from a creditunion. In a plea deal with prosecutors, Struna was expected toplead guilty. However, the day before a court hearing, he changedhis mind and hired new lawyers, according to court documents.

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After Struna pleaded not guilty, prosecutors dismissed theircharge against him in February saying they needed more time todevelop a new case, court documents showed.

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In their new seven-count indictment, federal prosecutors chargedthat Struna allegedly conspired with Alex Spirikaitis, formerpresident/CEO of Taupa Lithuanian CU, from 2002 to 2013.

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During that time frame, the former CEO made 46 fraudulenttransfers into Struna's accounts that totaled $2.3 million. Strunadid not submit any credit applications or loan documents and repaidonly $15,000 of the $2.3 million, according to the indictment.

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Spirikaitis pleaded guilty in February to one count ofconspiracy to commit bank fraud.

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He admitted to embezzling $4.2 million from Taupa Lithuanianbetween 2001 and 2013. With those stolen funds, he built a $1.6million home in an affluent Cleveland suburb, paid for a stadiumluxury suite at Cleveland Browns games and bought ninevehicles.

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Spirikaitis is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 23.

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Earlier this year, former teller Michael Ruksenas pleaded guilty to conspiring with Spirikaitisto embezzle more than $481,000 and former bookkeeper Vytas Apanavicius pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy tocommit embezzlement. He admitted to stealing nearly a milliondollars from Taupa Lithuanian, with help from Spirikaitis.

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In February, Ruksenas was sentenced to 17 months in federal prison.Apanavicius is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 28.

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Federal prosecutors said they expect to charge three additionalindividuals. They have been identified in court documents only bytheir initials.

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The NCUA and the Ohio Department of Commerce took possession ofTaupa Lithuanian in July 2013 and placed it into receivershipbecause of insolvency. The Cleveland cooperative served about 1,150members.

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The fraud case caused a $33.5 million loss to NCUSIF, according to the NCUA Office of Inspector General's material lossreport.

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