WESTLAND, Mich.–The former manager of a credit union here has been sentenced to between two and 20 years after being found guilty of stealing from the CU.
Fuataina Afutiti of Westland was given the sentence for taking $2 million from the Veterans Health Administration Credit Union, funds she used to buy a Mercedes, a motor home and to take luxury vacations. The theft was described as “despicable” by Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette.
In a released statement, Schuette said Afutiti "took advantage of military veterans, many of whom were disabled or on a fixed income, Individuals who served and sacrificed for this country deserve the utmost respect, but instead the members of the credit union were victimized. I am pleased to see this verdict.”
Afutiti, 50, pleaded guilty to one count of receiving proceeds from a continuing criminal enterprise and one count of embezzlement from a credit union, according to the release.
The credit union was liquidated in march of 2016 and its assets assumed by Public Service Credit Union. It had originally been founded in 1954 and had nearly 1,300 members at the time it was closed.