COO Embezzled $465K From Winthrop Credit Union: Officials

The former chief operating officer of a credit union in Mineola was indicted Wednesday on charges in connection to stealing more than $465,000 from her company over a seven-year span, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of New York.

Suzanne Silva, 35, of Carle Place, served as Chief Operating Officer of Winthrop University Hospital Employees Federal Credit Union. From March 2011 and June 2018, officials say Silva made unauthorized transfers, more than $465,000, from operating accounts of Winthrop University Hospital Employees Federal Credit Union to personal accounts in her name and the names of family members.

She then used these funds to go on Caribbean cruises, a trip to Cancun and pay thousands of dollars a month for purchases from Amazon and Etsy, officials say.

“Greed surfaces at all levels when criminals see a payday, and they think no one is watching,” FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William F. Sweeney said in a press release. “In this investigation, someone noticed nearly half a million dollars was gone and now the COO faces criminal charges."

She was arrested Wednesday and charged with embezzlement. Silva was terminated by her employer in June 2018.

“As alleged in the indictment, Silva abused her authority as Chief Operating Officer and stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from the credit union, which she used to fund an extravagant lifestyle,” United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Richard P. Donoghue says.

Silva faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.

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