Warrensville Heights couple charged with embezzling nearly $200,000 from now-closed Cleveland credit union

A Warrensville Heights couple were charged in federal court with embezzling nearly $200,000 from a now-closed Cleveland credit union where once worked, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman and FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony.

Gwendolyn Dubose, 64, and Kolade Awoyade, 48, were charged with one count each of embezzlement and making false entries in credit union reports and records. They are accused of embezzling approximately $191,978 from Greater Abyssinia Federal Credit Union (GAFCU) between 2012 and 2015.

According to a two-count criminal information:

Dubose served as manager and treasurer at GAFCU while Awoyade worked as head teller. Together they caused the credit union to make false and fraudulent deposits and transfers totaling approximately $191,978 into nine bank accounts they controlled, according to the information.

GAFCU attempted to merge with another credit union in November 2015. That resulted in the identification of numerous unaccounted-for transactions and an overstatement of GAFCU’s assets. The couple was placed on administrative leave, the merger did not take place and GAFCU was closed by the National Credit Union Administration, according to the information.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after reviewing factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carmen Henderson following an investigation by the FBI.

An information is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.