Rostraver woman charged with embezzlement, setting credit union fire
A Westmoreland County woman is charged with embezzling money from a Monessen credit union and setting a fire in an attempt to conceal the theft, federal officials announced.
Patty L. Mavrakis, 63, of Rostraver was indicted on charges of embezzlement, wire fraud and use of fire to commit a federal felony.
While working as a branch manager for Valley 1st Community Federal Credit Union, prosecutors say Mavrakis embezzled $340,200 in September 2016. To hide the theft, she is accused of starting a fire in the credit union’s safe.
In the days following the fire, Mavrakis made an insurance claim on behalf of the credit union for the missing money, according to acting U.S. Attorney Stephen Kaufman. She faces up to 60 years in prison, a $1.5 million fine or both.
The FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives conducted the investigation.
Patrick Varine is a TribLive reporter covering Delmont, Export and Murrysville. He is a Western Pennsylvania native and joined the Trib in 2010 after working as a reporter and editor with the former Dover Post Co. in Delaware. He can be reached at pvarine@triblive.com.
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