Newark Woman Admits Ripping Off $760K from Credit Union

A 51-year-old city woman Friday admitted she stole $760,000 from the St. James Hospital Federal Credit Union, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murray told Nj.com.

Ana Santana had run the credit union, which is funded by employee payroll deductions and had been overseen by a volunteer board, which Santana disbanded in 2006. She then began to issue improper loans to herself and family members. After discrepancies in the credit union’s books were discovered, Santana was removed from her post in 2008.

She is scheduled to be sentenced May 31 and has agreed to pay $760,000 in restitution.