Theodore J. Longust, a former business relationship manager for the $1 billion Scott Credit Union in Edwardsville, Ill., pleaded not guilty on Dec. 4 in U.S. District Court in East St. Louis, Ill. to nine felony charges of fraud, misapplication of funds and money laundering allegedly involving millions of dollars.

Longust, 50, formerly of Columbia, Ill., was indicted Nov. 18 by a federal grand jury.

The indictment alleged Longust submitted a false report that misstated loan balances and omitted loan amounts and underreported loans of more than $12 million. Longust submitted the report to Scott President/CEO Frank A. Padak and Chief Lending Officer Craig Burkhard last year, according to the indictment.

According to a financial affidavit filed and signed by Longust last week, he is unemployed and holds $45,000 in credit card debt, a $160,000 mortgage and a second $40,000 mortgage. The financial institutions holding those mortgages were not identified. Longust also holds a $43,000 IRA.

Longust’s trial was scheduled for Feb. 1, 2016.

This criminal indictment may be related to a civil lawsuit filed in April by David Butz, a former NFL star, and Eugene Schill in St. Clair County Circuit Clerk's office in Belleville. They accused the credit union of consumer fraud and negligence involving millions of dollars.

Padak, the credit union's board members, chief executives, vice presidents and Longust were named as defendants in the civil suit, which caught the interest of FBI investigators.

A September CU Times inquiry confirmed the FBI was conducting an investigation. Scott employees fully cooperated with the investigation, the FBI said.

According to the civil suit, Scott allegedly opened unsecured lines of credit in Butz's name without his authorization and signature. The credit union was also accused of using Butz's name and credit to extend commercial lines of credit to multiple fictitious limited liability corporations with which he had no relationship.

A court hearing on the civil suit is scheduled for January.

Instant Insights /

Former Scott CU Manager Pleads Not Guilty to Fraud

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