A Westland woman bought cars and took personal vacations using the more than $2 million she stole from the Veterans Health Administration Credit Union in Detroit while she was CEO, according to Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette.
Fuataina Afutiti, 50, is charged with one count of receiving proceeds from a continuing criminal enterprise and one count of embezzlement from a credit union for her actions between 2012 to 2016.
Afutiti is accused of using the money she stole to buy or lease six cars including a 2013 Mercedes Benz. She's also accused of buying a $100,000 motorhome and taking personal vacations using the embezzled money.
Afutiti was arraigned Friday and released on a $10,000 personal bond. Her next court appearance is set for September 15 at 8:30 a.m.
Schuette said in a news release that the discovery of the crime was made after a routine audit of the Veterans Health Administration Credit Union in February of 2016.
“For a person to take advantage of Michigan veterans, many of whom are disabled and on fixed incomes, to use the money to live a life of excess is despicable,” said Schuette in a news release. “These men and women gave so much to allow us the freedoms we have in this country and anyone who takes advantage of that will face the consequences.”
