AZUSA, Calif.–Jolina Monique Sanchez, a former employee of Azusa City Employees FCU, has been accused of embezzling more than $270,000 over 15 months from the credit union.
Sanchez has entered a not guilty plea in Los Angeles federal court. Azusa City Employees has since been absorbed via merger by Foothill Credit Union.
Sanchez was arrested at her home and charged with 19 counts of theft by a credit union employee, according to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune. If convicted on all counts, Sanchez would face a maximum of 570 years in prison.
According to authorities, Sanchez is accused of making 19 withdrawals ranging from $2,300 to $46,400 from March 2012 through May of 2013. The theft was not discovered until the end of 2013 during an audit conducted by NCUA, the Valley Tribune reported. Outside auditors then were hired to conduct a more detailed audit, which led to the charges of embezzlement against Sanchez, 35. NCUA issued a prohibition order against Sanchez in May of 2014.