Shawn Nelson, Embezzlement, Texas 2013

Defendant’s Descent into Crime

Shawn Nelson, a 39-year-old man from Houston, brought shame to his former employer, Members Choice Credit Union (MCCU), by embezzling approximately $340,000 from the bank. Nelson, a former vice-president at MCCU, is now set to serve a 37-month prison sentence for his grievous misconduct.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Nelson entered a guilty plea on June 27, 2013. Judge Keith P. Ellison accepted the plea and handed down the sentence, which includes three years of supervised release after Nelson completes his prison term. Nelson must also pay restitution of $340,000 – the exact amount he stole from MCCU over a nine-year period.

Nelson’s crime was committed during his tenure as a vice-president of Lending at MCCU, from 2001 through 2010. He opened loan accounts in the names of his friends and family members without their authorization, then withdrew money from these accounts, again without their consent. By the time the fraud was discovered, Nelson had stolen about $340,000 from the credit union.

The investigation into Nelson’s crime was led by the U.S. Secret Service, with Assistant United States Attorney Sharad S. Khandelwal handling the prosecution and Assistant United States Attorney Kristine Rollinson handling forfeiture matters.

Nelson was permitted to remain on bond and will voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility in the near future. His actions have served as a reminder of the devastating consequences of white-collar crime and the importance of accountability.

The case is a stark reminder that crimes committed in the pursuit of financial gain will not go unpunished. As one of the key players in the case, Nelson’s sentence serves as a warning to others who may be tempted to engage in similar behavior.

In the aftermath of Nelson’s crime, MCCU has taken steps to strengthen its internal controls and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. The credit union’s commitment to transparency and accountability has helped to rebuild trust with its members and the community at large.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to pursuing justice in cases like Nelson’s, where individuals abuse their positions of trust for personal gain. As Assistant United States Attorney Sharad S. Khandelwal noted, ‘The sentence imposed in this case reflects the seriousness with which we take white-collar crime and the need for accountability among those who commit it.’

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