OCALA, Fla. — A drive-thru teller at an Ocala credit union has been arrested on allegations she stole $3,000 from an elderly member’s account.
According to the Ocala Police Department, the investigation began Jan. 16 when an officer was called to the credit union—the name of which has not been disclosed–after a regional manager reported suspected employee theft discovered during an internal audit.
Authorities allege the employee, identified as 38-year-old Maria Carballo, made two unauthorized withdrawals from the customer’s account — $800 on Jan. 14 and $2,200 two days later — even though the account holder was not present and no withdrawal slip was found for the first transaction.
Video Captured Transactions
According to police, the regional manager reported that surveillance video allegedly captured both transactions, though Carballo was not seen removing cash at the time. Investigators allege the money was taken before the cash drawer was balanced.
The member later told police they did not know Carballo and had not authorized the withdrawals, police said.
According to the report, Carballo, who had worked at the credit union for about three years, was interviewed Feb. 2 after being advised of her rights. According to police, she initially said she used the account to cover a cash shortage but later admitted taking the money one to two weeks earlier to pay household expenses and attempting to conceal the loss through the transactions.
The Charges
Carballo was arrested and booked into the Marion County Jail, then released on bond two days later. She faces charges of grand theft, organized fraud and fraudulent use of personal identification without consent.
Court records show Carballo has pleaded not guilty and is represented by a public defender. She is scheduled to appear in Marion County Court on March 10, police said.
