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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

TUESDAY, March 14, 2006

RALEIGH - United States Attorney Frank D. Whitney announced that in federal court on March 7, 2006, KATHRYN BUIE PATRICK, 47, of Riegelwood, North Carolina, pled guilty to one count of federal income tax evasion and one count of embezzlement of credit union funds. PATRICK was charged in a Criminal Information filed by the United States Attorney’s Office on February 9, 2006.

Beginning in or about November of 1999, and continuing until in or about November of 2004, PATRICK, an employee of the Riegelwood Federal Credit Union, knowingly and willfully embezzled approximately $336,500.00 in monies, funds and credits belonging and entrusted to the care of the Riegelwood Federal Credit Union. For the calendar year 2003, PATRICK caused to be filed a false and fraudulent income tax return on behalf of herself and her husband. Sentencing is scheduled for the June 13, 2006, term of court.

Investigation of the case was conducted by Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Thomas B. Murphy is prosecuting the case for the United States.

News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s web page at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce within 48 hours of release.