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A former teller was sentenced by a federal judge to five years of probation last week for stealing more than $19,000 from a Pennsylvania credit union.
Sometime after May 2015, Brooke Shaeffer, 24, began to "sell" money to the branch vault at the $4.8 billion Members 1st Federal Credit Union in Mechanicsburg, Pa. She then voided those transactions, according to court documents. Though this caused her money drawer to be short, Shaeffer managed to conceal her theft for a time because she was the only one who counted the funds, court documents show.
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Her lawyer explained in court papers that she stole the money to support her drug addiction.
After she was confronted by the credit union about the theft, her family made restitution in 2017 and Shaeffer enrolled in an alcohol and drug treatment program.
After the credit union reported the theft to the FBI as required by law, federal prosecutors filed a robbery charge against Shaeffer in December.
She pleaded guilty to the felony in January.
Shaeffer has remained drug and alcohol free for three years and she is gainfully employed, according to court documents.
Prosecutors recommended that Shaeffer be sentenced to probation.
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Peter Strozniak
Credit Union Times reporter covering credit union operations, fraud, M&As, leagues, business continuity, and breaking news.
