A former assistant manager of the $13 million Harrison District No. 2 Federal Credit Union was accused of allegedly embezzling $78,000 from the Colorado Springs-based cooperative for more than seven years, according to a local media report.
The Colorado Springs Gazette reported last week that Rhoda K. Pohina, 38, had access to the credit union’s databases through her home computer that enabled her to manipulate financial records to conceal her alleged fraud.
A police investigator’s affidavit said the credit union lacked internal controls, according to the newspaper report.
Between 2008 and 2014, Pohina managed credit card cash advances for members and processed their return payments. Police said they uncovered dozens of transactions in which Pohina allegedly made cash advances totaling $78,884 to a credit card account she controlled but did not make any repayment, according the newspaper.
Police alleged Pohina issued fake daily settlement reports that showed the cash advances were settled.
The embezzlement was first detected after an audit in December 2013. Pohina left the credit union for another job in 2013, the Colorado Springs Gazette reported.
When reached by the CU Times, Harrison District No. 2 FCU President/CEO Nicholas A. Jensen said the board of directors is reserving any comment until after the case is concluded.
Pohina’s plea hearing is scheduled for Nov. 9 in El Paso County Court, according to publicly available court records.
