Former Credit Union Staffer Sentenced for Laundering Drug Money

On Wednesday, a former credit union employee was sentenced to five years probation after pleading guilty to laundering drug money for her ex-boyfriend.

Janelle Fuston, 25, of Oregon, laundered more than $120,000 in 2011 and 2012 at the $6.2 billion First Tech Federal Credit Union where she worked. She pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering and admitted that she laundered money generated from cocaine trafficking for her then-boyfriend Larry Fuentes.

When police searched the home the couple shared, they found cocaine and drug paraphernalia. According to court documents, Fuston deposited the drug money into multiple accounts in her own name at First Tech Federal. She also admitted to breaking up the drug proceeds into multiple deposits because ATMs only accept a limited number of bills at a time.

Authorities said Fuston and Fuentes spent most of the money on tanning salons, vacations and other luxuries. Police only recovered $11,757 of the $120,000.

First Tech FCU fired Fuston once they uncovered her misconduct. Her plea agreement bans her from working in the financial industry for 10 years.