Heritage Trust CU Sued Over CashedChecks

MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - (06/26/06) – Town officials field suit lastweek claiming Heritage Trust CU and several banks allowed a formerpolice department employee to deposit and cash checks made out tothe town. The suit, filed in state court, claims the credit union,as well as Wachovia Bank and National Bank of South Carolina,failed to observe routine banking standards when they allowedIsabelle Perdue, a former payroll coordinator for the police, toendorse and deposit checks worth more than $90,000 into herpersonal account. Perdue, who also oversaw the department’sgrants program, was charged with 13 counts of embezzlement and 16counts of forgery. Perdue was charged with stealing about $50,000by falsifying her time sheets and embezzling $94,000 from grantsshe oversaw. The suit seeks the amount of the checks, plus interestand punitive damages.