FIRCREST, Wash.–A former credit union teller here has been charged with taking over the account of a member suffering from Alzheimers disease and then emptying it of tens of thousands of dollars to finance an addiction to painkillers.
According to prosecutors, Shelley Lehman, a former teller at Tapco Credit Union, allegedly took money from the account of Jean Hockman, 81, during December of 2015. The crime went undiscovered until July of this year when Hockman’s son reported he had not seen a statement from his mother’s accounts in several months and he checked online. In doing so he said he found more than $40,000 was missing.
Prosecutors said that Lehman, 43, had taken $42,000 and had changed paperwork and statements to be delivered to the address of a friend.
Hockman lives in a facility where she receives 24-hour care for Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Prosecutors said that when the credit union was contacted an investigation was launched by the credit union, which included reviewing surveillance video of the CU’s drive-up window where Lehman had been working and which show her making withdrawals when no member was present.
The credit union told local media all the money has been refunded. Lehman has pleaded not guilty.