Employee steals $3.2 million from credit union

An accounts coordinator, who stole $3.2 million from the Corporate Area credit union he worked at, has until April 14 to start making restitution.

Dwayne Latty, 47, pleaded guilty to eight counts of larceny as a servant when he appeared before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court yesterday. It is reported that between January and March 2021, Latty stole the money from the Palisadoes Co-Operative Credit Union. The court did not hear how the fraud was detected, however Senior Parish Judge Lori-Ann Cole-Montaque had questions for Latty.

"Sir, it is appropriate in sentencing that you pay back this money. Where is the money, sir? Sir, what you did with the money?" the judge quizzed.

"I used it for all sort of stuff, over a period of time," Latty replied. "Like what other stuff? If you steal $3 million, you should be able to account for it. What you did with the people money? Sir, your liberty is hanging by a slim thread, don't waste my time. What you did with the money?" Cole-Montaque pressed. "I used it for expenses over a period of time," Latty replied.

When the judge asked Latty if he had money to begin restitution, he told her that he was not in possession of cash but had intentions to repay the monies as soon as possible.

"My soon as possible was in the next hour," Cole-Montaque said. Latty informed the court that he would require until the end of the month to gather the funds and pleaded for leniency to get the additional time. Latty, who is currently on $200,000 bail, was made the subject of a fingerprint order and was ordered to surrender his travel documents. A stop order was imposed at the island's ports and he is to report to the police twice weekly.

-T.T.