LOVES PARK, Ill. – The former card services coordinator for Rock Valley FCU was sentenced yesterday to three years and seven months in prison for siphoning $1.1 million from card accounts she used on vacations, jewelry, weekly car washes and — in one three-year stretch — $535 at Sunglass Hut.
Lisa Farel oversaw credit and debit card accounts at the $75 million credit union. She used 73 credit card accounts over 15 years, either reopening closed ones or not closing ones that members asked to close. She stole the money by overstating credit-card balances and pocketing the difference.
After turning herself in last year, Farel cashed out her retirement plan and paid $54,000 in restitution. She said the rest of the stolen funds was spent.
No members lost money in the crime because of a pay out by the credit union’s bond insurer.
