The former manager of an Energy Corridor credit union has been sentenced to federal prison for embezzling more than $50,000.
Donna Gonzalez, 40 of Houston, the former Saint John Vianney Federal Credit Union manager, was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison without parole for embezzling $56,862.36 from the credit union.
Gonzalez was indicted in August 2009 and pleaded guilty to embezzlement on Oct. 20 of last year.
U.S. District Judge David Hittner handed down the prison term at a hearing yesterday morning.
The sentence includes an upward adjustment of normal sentencing guidelines because of Gonzalez’s abuse of her position as a bank manager at the credit union to embezzle funds in her custody. Hittner also ordered Gonzalez to pay as restitution in the amount she embezzled to the San Antonio Credit Union.
San Antonio Credit Union now operates the former Saint John Vianney Federal Credit Union.
Gonzalez’ prison term will be followed by three years’ probation.
Gonzalez admitted that from Sept. 22, 2006, to Feb. 22, 2008, while employed as a manager of the Saint John Vianney Federal Credit Union in the 600 block of Nottingham Oaks Trail, she defrauded the federally-insured credit union, as well as some of its customers, of approximately $56,862.36. The funds were taken from dormant accounts.
Gonzalez issued official checks made payable to Bank of America, against funds in dormant customers’ accounts and deposited those checks into her personal bank account at Bank of America.
Gonzalez, who has been on bond since her arrest, was permitted to remain out on bail pending the issuance of a court order to surrender to a Bureau of Prison’s facility to be designated.
The charges against Gonzalez were the result of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Secret Service and the Houston Area Fraud Task Force.
