Two Former Local Credit Union Employees Charged in Million-Dollar Embezzlement Scam

HOUSTON – An ex-employee at a local credit union has been charged with embezzlement and making false entries into the credit union’s books and records, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Another ex-employee was also charged with embezzlement related to the scam.

A federal grand jury charged Susanna Guajardo, 42, of Pearland in a five-count superseding indictment returned under seal Dec. 12, 2018. She was taken into custody today, at which time the indictment was unsealed, and is expected to make her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Frances Stacy today at 10:00 a.m.  

Grace Garza aka Grace Valencia, 48, of Pasadena, was originally charged last month with two counts of embezzlement and was released on bond. She is expected to appear again in court on these charges in the near future.

Guajardo is alleged to have committed embezzlement of $1,154,876 and three counts of making false entries into the books and records of a federal credit union between at least 2010 and 2018. The indictment alleges Garza committed two counts of embezzlement – the $1,154,876 along with Guajardo as well as a separate embezzlement of $110,000.    

If convicted of any of the charges, each faces up to 30 years in federal prison and a possible $1 million fine.  

The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Belinda Beek is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.

A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.