Winchester Woman Sentenced for Embezzling $1 Million from Credit Union

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Donna L. Jennings, 44, of Winchester, was sentenced today to 54 months in prison for embezzling over $1 million from Winchester Community Federal Credit Union. Jennings was also ordered to forfeit and pay $1,059,767.52 in restitution to her victims.

Jennings pleaded guilty on Dec. 18, 2015. According to court documents, Jennings admitted to stealing over $1 million in funds from Winchester Community Federal Credit Union where she was employed as its manager.  From 2001 through 2014, Jennings took cash from teller drawers, fraudulently opened financial accounts, conducted financial transactions without customers’ knowledge, made false entries into accounting records, and approved loans without authority.  Jennings funneled the proceeds of her fraud into accounts she controlled and used the stolen funds to purchase gifts for herself and pay credit card bills.  When federal bank examiners questioned Jennings about suspicious transactions, she made false statements and altered Board of Director meeting minutes to support her lies.  As a result of Jennings’ conduct, the National Credit Union Administration placed Winchester Community Federal Credit Union into a restricted status and invited another financial institution to merge with it for the protection of its membership and the National Credit Union Administration insurance fund.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Paul M. Abbate, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Uzo Asonye prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:15-cr-358.