Former director of Ohio County Schools Credit Union charged with embezzlement

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – The former executive director of the Ohio County Schools Public Credit Union was charged in federal court today with embezzlement, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.

Kathleen Gramlich, 65, of Valley Grove, West Virginia, has been charged by Information with “Theft from a Credit Union.”  It’s alleged that between June 2013 and March 2016, Gramlich stole more than $156,000 from the Credit Union and used the funds to pay personal debts.  The embezzlement scheme was uncovered in March after a routine reconciliation of accounts by an employee of the credit union revealed possible wrongdoing.

Gramlich faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted.  Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.  The United States will also seek an order that Gramlich make full restitution.

“The member accounts at the Ohio County Public Schools Federal Credit Union are insured by the National Credit Union Administration Board,” said U.S. Attorney Ihlenfeld. “Because of this insurance, and because of the way that the scheme was perpetrated, the funds of account holders are not, and never were, in jeopardy.”

The Credit Union serves approximately one-thousand members, comprised of current, former, and retired employees of Ohio County Public Schools and their families.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod J. Douglas is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.  The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the West Virginia State Police.
 
An information is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.