DANVILLE, VA – Two years after vanishing with over $600,000 of URW Community Federal Credit Union’s money, Jorge Navarro, 30, of Danville, is facing federal charges. Navarro was apprehended in Durham County, North Carolina, but his capture wasn’t a quiet one. He was found fleeing a reported shooting, covered in blood and using a false name.
According to federal prosecutors, between July 2017 and September 2018, Navarro, then a head teller at the Danville credit union branch, systematically siphoned off $617,000. The scheme wasn’t just theft; Navarro allegedly replaced the stolen funds with counterfeit U.S. currency, attempting to cover his tracks. An indictment was sealed in October 2019, but Navarro remained a ghost until last week.
The unraveling began on March 31, 2021, when Durham, N.C. police responded to calls of gunfire. They found Navarro at the scene, injured and identifying himself with a fabricated name. A search of the apartment Navarro was using revealed a cache of illegal items: cocaine, multiple firearms, and a collection of fake IDs. These discoveries quickly linked him to the outstanding federal warrant.
Navarro is now charged with one count of embezzlement and one count of passing counterfeit U.S. currency to URW Credit Union. The indictment details the alleged scheme, painting a picture of a brazen betrayal of trust. Authorities have remained tight-lipped regarding the specific methods Navarro used to embezzle the funds, citing the ongoing investigation.
The case was a joint effort between the U.S. Secret Service’s Richmond Field Office and the Danville Police Department. Special Agent in Charge Gerald W. Page of the Secret Service emphasized the agency’s commitment to investigating financial crimes, even those that span multiple states and require years to resolve. Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Swartz will prosecute the case.
Navarro’s arrest is just the first step. He now faces a lengthy legal battle and potential prison time if convicted. The full extent of his criminal activity, and whether any accomplices were involved, remains to be seen. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it unfolds, bringing you the unvarnished truth from the courts.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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