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A former mobile branch coordinator for the $2.3 billion HAPO Community Credit Union in Richland, Wash., was ordered to pay more than $75,000 in restitution following a hearing at Benton County Superior Court in August.
Meaghan M. Brooks, 42, of Richland, admitted she stole funds from the credit union mobile branch ATM from July 2021 to January 2022. The ATM is attached to a van that travels to community events as a convenient service for members.
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In late July, Brooks was sentenced to four months in jail after she pleaded guilty to first-degree theft, but there was a dispute over the restitution amount. Brooks' defense attorney said she was committed to restitution of $20,000 but HAPO Community CU officials argued that she stole $75,560.
Benton County Prosecuting Attorney Tyler C. Grandgeorge said following a restitution hearing, Brooks was ordered to pay the full amount that she pilfered.
Although a review of a general ledger indicated that more than $76,000 should have been in the ATM, the HAPO investigation determined there was only $1,300 in the machine. After Brooks learned on Jan. 28 that the credit union was conducting an audit, she submitted a resignation letter on Jan. 31.
One of Brooks' responsibilities was to sign the money out from the vault, which was recorded in the general ledger and then deposited into the mobile ATM. The process required Brooks to deposit the funds into the ATM with a second employee as a witness. However, because the witness employee was rotated among other employees there was no record as to which employee witnessed the Brooks' deposits, according to a police report.
Although Brooks deposited the funds into the ATM, she allegedly did not record the transaction into the ATM transaction journal. She stole the funds from the ATM while she was alone, police said.
The NCUA banned Brooks last year from ever working for a federally insured financial institution.
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Peter Strozniak
Credit Union Times reporter covering credit union operations, fraud, M&As, leagues, business continuity, and breaking news.
