Kevin Robert Lee, 35, of Tallahassee, Florida, has admitted to looting his own credit union in a brazen, years-long scheme that netted $806,666.26 through bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and false tax filings. Lee, once the trusted lending director of FSU Credit Union (FSUCU), pleaded guilty yesterday to twenty counts of bank fraud, theft from a lending institution, aggravated identity theft, and three counts of filing false tax returns.
From June 2014 to November 2017, Lee exploited his authority to open accounts and approve credit lines at FSUCU. But behind the scenes, he was running a criminal operation—using the personal data of the president of the Tallahassee Chapter of Credit Unions (TCCU) to create a shadow account. While the legitimate TCCU account remained untouched, Lee funneled stolen funds through the fake one, masking his thefts in plain sight. He also forged accounts in the names of college roommates, turning them into money-laundering conduits.
Lee systematically drained inactive customer accounts, redirecting the money to cover his fabricated credit lines, pad the phony TCCU account, or deposit into his intermediary shell accounts. The stolen cash paid off personal credit cards, financed car and mortgage payments, and even covered his children’s tuition. All of it was hidden from the IRS—Lee failed to report any of the stolen funds as income on his 2016 and 2017 tax returns, committing three separate counts of filing false returns.
The fallout is severe. Lee now faces a maximum of 30 years for bank fraud, another 30 years for theft from a lending institution, and up to 3 years for each false tax return. On top of that, the aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory 2-year sentence—stacked consecutively, meaning no early escape from justice.
The scheme unraveled after FSU Credit Union flagged suspicious transactions, triggering an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen is prosecuting the case, underscoring the federal crackdown on insider financial crimes. The sentencing hearing is set for August 22, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. in the U.S. Courthouse in Tallahassee.
This case lays bare how trust can be weaponized from within. As a lending director and treasurer of a pro-credit union advocacy group, Lee had access, authority, and cover. But greed turned his position into a pipeline for theft. The Northern District of Florida’s U.S. Attorney, Lawrence Keefe, made it clear: betraying that trust comes with a steep price. Public court documents are available through the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida’s website.
RELATED: Rave Promoter Ochle Admits to MDMA Ring
RELATED: Darrell Lewis Pleads Guilty in Seventh Ward Heroin, Gun Ring
Related Federal Cases
- Ruben Mangual-Aquino Sentenced for Credit Card Fraud in Orlando · Florida
- Lee & Downing: MD Pimps Plead Guilty to Sex Trafficking · Maryland
- Loxley Criminals Plead Guilty to Polysilicon Heist · Mississippi
- John Francis Songer Charged With $50,000 Union Fund Theft · Florida
- GOP Rising Star Shuts Down VP Talk · Florida
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
