Employees at a Pennsylvania credit union are earning kudos from federal law enforcement and prosecutors for helping to crack a nationwide fraud ring.

U.S. Secret Service agents launched an investigation into the alleged ring after workers at the $103 million, state-chartered Erie Community Credit Union in Erie, Penn., reported concerns about what appeared to be phony auto loans paid to a shell company, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Pittsburgh.

As a result of that investigation, a San Francisco-area businessman pleaded guilty last week in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh for his role in a nationwide automobile loan fraud scheme that allegedly defrauded more than 21 financial institutions of $1 million to $2.4 million, the U.S. Attorney said.