SAN MATEO, Calif. --A judge on Tuesday set a jury trial for a member of San Mateo CU who prosecutors say fraudulently withdrew $20,000 to finance her wedding but ended up spending her wedding day in county jail.
Prosecutors say 26-year-old Briana Balancier, who runs the Happy Little Hearts day care center in San Mateo, deposited a U.S. Bank check for $35,000 at her credit union March 3 and tried to withdraw the money three days later. Credit union officials told her she needed to wait 11 days unless U.S. Bank informed them that the check was valid.
That same day, the credit union received a fax that appeared to be from U.S. Bank approving the check. Balancier withdrew $20,000 over the next three days — $12,000 in cashier's checks and $8,000 in cash — and used the money to pay the wedding caterer, venue, disc jockey and photographer.
The check later bounced, and the credit union contacted U.S. Bank employees, who said the letter was a forgery.
Police arrested Balancier on March 19, two days before her wedding ceremony.
