ABERDEEN, Wash.–Krista Stephanie Putman, who pleaded guilty in November to five theft charges related to her employment at a credit union here and who was also charged with setting a fire in an attempt to hide the crime, has been sentenced.
Putman was sentenced to 14 months in prison and will pay fines and fees totaling $336,758.63, according to the Grays Harbor County Prosecutor’s Office.
“In this case, the defendant took full advantage of her position at the credit union to benefit financially,” wrote county Prosecutor Katie Svoboda in her sentencing memorandum. “She was trusted and the oversight of her work was minimal.”
Putman was charged with stealing more than $350,000 from the now-defunct credit union, and then on March 29 of 2016 with starting a fire to cover up evidence of her crime. A subsequent investigation also revealed she had stolen $11,000 from another area business, according to court documents.
“The defendant has agreed to full restitution and sentencing at the top of her standard range,” continued Svoboda. “This is appropriate and the state requests it be imposed.”
As a result of the thefts, the Woodworkers Credit Union, formed in 1955 to serve loggers and other wood products workers, was merged into Great Northwest Federal Credit Union.
The crime was discovered when an NCUA auditor made a surprise appearance in March of 2016 and asked to review certain documents. When the auditor returned the following morning, there was a fire at the credit union while Putman was the only person in the building, according to Aberdeen Police Lt. Kevin Darst.
At least one member had earlier reported to police that unauthorized activity was taking place on their accounts. Fraudulent loans were also discovered.