Former Credit Union Employee Accepts Plea Deal

A woman at the center of an FBI investigation for stealing money from the Louisville Metro Police Officer’s Credit Union has accepted a plea deal.

Josephine Crowe, 46, was a vice president of the credit union and had worked there for several years. On Tuesday, she pleaded guilty to fraud and identity theft. She could face up to 32 years in prison.

The investigation caused the credit union’s board to be suspended and later led to the credit union being shut down.

Over a period of several years, dozens of police officers fell victim to Crowe’s alleged scheme, according to Louisville attorney Allen Cobb, who represents 17 victims. Cobb said his team has recovered about $1 million for their clients, although the Department of Justice said in a statement Tuesday that the amount involved in the scheme was closer to $3 million.

The Department of Justice also said Crowe stole money from the facility’s vault and even from the teller drawers. Crowe falsified loan documents, created hundreds of fake accounts, wired money to accounts at other institutions and made withdrawals against them and even asked union employees to cash checks at pawn shops and give the proceeds to her.

In addition to the prison time, Crowe has been ordered to pay restitution, and could be fined up to $1.25 million. Her sentencing date has not yet been determined.
Source: WAVE