HARTFORD, Conn. – A former bookkeeper for Meriden Franco-American FCU was sentenced to 51 months in jail yesterday for stealing almost $745,000 from the tiny credit union, which failed in 2008.
Melissa Laliberte, 39, confessed to taking cash from members that was intended to pay down loan balances, made unauthorized withdrawals from credit union accounts, drew her salary multiple times a month when she was only entitled to be paid once per month and, without authorization, used credit union checks to pay personal expenses.
Laliberte also admitted she failed to post cash withdrawals and loans to her and her husband’s share accounts, presented false reports to the board of directors, and falsified deposits to her own account.
By the time NCUA liquidated Meriden Franco-American in May 2008 the one-time $1.5 million credit union had just $338,000 in assets and 206 members.
Judge Vanessa Bryant ordered Laliberte to pay $743,768 in restitution to NCUA, back taxes in the amount of $218,103, plus applicable penalties and interest on the embezzled funds to the Internal Revenue Service.
