Kobinsky Now Suspended Without Pay; Trial Set for April

MADISON, Wis. – Thomas Kobinsky, the CUNA Mutual Media Relations Manager, who was charged with four counts of identity theft on Jan. 7, is no longer being paid by CUNA Mutual. Kobinsky was previously suspended with pay, but that has changed based on some findings of a CUNA Mutual internal investigation. The next step of course would be termination, though the company would not comment further. Jury selection in the Kobinsky trial is scheduled for April 25. In the affidavit, authorities paint a picture of Kobinsky allegedly trying to financially and professionally harm the victim by such actions as making phony political donations in the victim's name; getting a false announcement published about a new consulting firm the victim started (but actually had not); applying for bank loans in victim's name; and other actions. Kobinsky's wrath allegedly started after the victim yelled at a young girl soccer player who according to the affidavit urinated in the victim's yard. Kobinsky, himself a soccer dad, often used some mention of soccer in his actions against the victim, such as mailing magazines the victim had not ordered to him as "CEO, Backyard Soccer."