NEW CASTLE, Ind.–A former employee of a local credit union has been charged for the alleged theft of more than $275,000 during her employment there, with much of the missing money reportedly having gone for gambling purposes, according to police.
New Castle police charged Erin Ross, 49, after a credit union consultant found discrepancies in her internal credit card account and its credit limits, the New Castle News reported.
Citing the criminal complaint, the News reported that Ross had been approved for a credit card with a $3,000 limit.
“However, a discrepancy was found Jan. 17 showing her credit limit was $275,000, with a statement balance of $277,018,” The New Castle News said. “The consultant advised police that in her position at the credit union, Ross had system access that allowed her to initiate credit limit increases. However, any increase exceeding $10,000 would have required approval from the board of directors.”
The News further cited police as alleging documents showed approval dated Feb. 20, 2024, that increased her credit limit to $70,000, with the signatures of five board members.
‘Signatures Not Theirs’
“The consultant obtained notarized written statements from each of those members that those signatures were not theirs, nor did they approve such an increase in Ross’s credit limit, police reported,” according to the News. “Credit union records show no legitimate approvals authorizing increases in her credit limit beyond the original $3,000, the paperwork states. A forensic audit of Ross’s account, from December 2021 through January 2025, showed her credit limit had been periodically increased to about $275,000, and that it had been adjusted at least 24 times in amounts slightly above the outstanding balance at those times.”
The New Castle News said the police report indicates the audit further showed purchases on the account totaling $589,628, including payments of $219,187 to Paypal, $177,880 to BetMGM, $144,150 to DraftKings, $14,905 to Hollywood Casinos; $28,884 in cash advances, $1,000 to BetRivers PA, $545 to Venmo, and $3,885 in other transactions that were gambling-related charges, electronic transfers and cash advances, according to the court papers.
The credit union has filed an insurance claim showing its total loss at $274,624. Most of that sum was reimbursed to the credit union, according to its bond coverage for its losses, the report stated.
Ross has since been terminated from her employment at the credit union. No member funds are missing.
Second Coming of a Robber Claiming to be Jesus
Separately, in Anchorage, Alaska, a man robbed a credit union armed only “with the power and authority of Jesus,” according to an affidavit filed in Alaska district court.
At around 5:58 p.m. on Feb. 26, the affidavit states 35-year-old Deshalon Jelks approached a teller at Credit Union 1 on Debarr Road and gave them a note reading, “I have a weapon. And that weapon I am armed with the power & authority of Jesus Christ. Empty the drawer into an envelope do not set off the alarm. -Neeclti sent me. -Thank you,” the Alaska News Source reported.
According to the report, a teller emptied the till of money and handed it to Jelks in an envelope. The Anchorage Police Department tracked Jelks to the Costco across the street from the Credit Union 1. Officers saw Jelks at the Costco with the same clothes worn by the suspect in security camera footage at the Credit Union 1, where he was arrested.
Also Appears in Albuquerque
As the CU Daily reported here, in late February in Albuquerque a man who allegedly claimed to be “Jesus Christ” was arrested after attempting to rob a credit union branch and later barricading himself inside the building, according to local media reports.
Nathaniel Way, 26, was taken into custody Feb. 23 following an incident at a U.S. Eagle Federal Credit Union branch in northeast Albuquerque, Albuquerque Raw reported.
