The former president of a Waterbury-based credit union pleaded guilty this week in federal court to embezzling nearly $250,000.
Tara Kewalis, 50, of Beacon Falls, entered the plea to one count of embezzlement by a credit union officer or employee in a proceeding Wednesday before U.S. District Court Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven.
Kewalis is scheduled to be sentenced on March 1. Sentencing guidelines call for her to get between 33 and 41 months in prison, though the judge may deviate from them.
The court is expected to order Kewalis to pay restitution. Kewalis has agreed to make restitution, and $138,176 was still outstanding at the time of her plea, court documents show.
Kewalis is free pending her sentencing after posting a $50,000 bond.
Kewalis at the time of the offense worked as president and CEO of Skyline Financial Federal Credit Union in Waterbury, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.
Between September 2016 until her employment was terminated in March 2021, Kewalis accessed the credit union’s accounting system to create fraudulent accounts, make fraudulent entries and steal $254,532 of the credit union’s money, prosecutors said.
Court documents show she also used false names on the accounts, such as “Cara Pemberton,” to accomplish the scheme.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the theft.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. McGarry is prosecuting Kewalis, who is being represented by Attorney Charles E. Tiernan III of the law firm Lynch, Traub, Keefe & Errante in New Haven.
Tiernan declined to comment on the case, as it is still pending.
Contact Michelle Tuccitto Sullo at msullo@newhavenbiz.com.
