Deputies: Pastor stole from credit union

A man who worked for Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union - who also served as a local pastor - and three of his congregants were arrested today on money laundering charges, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office announced today.

There may be more arrests, officials say.

The five-month investigation started In February, after credit union officials noticed people might be obtaining fraudulent loans and contacted HCSO.

This investigation involved more than 120 loan accounts worth more than $400,000 to the credit union, according to HCSO.

According to the sheriff's office:

Donnell Williams, a pastor at the Church of God in Christ House of Praise on North Nebraska, was employed at Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union as a loan officer and as a branch manager.

Between July 26, 2006, and February 12, 2009, Williams used his position to establish fraudulent loans to co-defendants by falsifying the loan applications. Williams, 36, also used his position within the credit union to circumvent security measures, used the personal information of others both with and without their consent and received monetary gain from doing so. Williams also engaged in money laundering by filtering the ill-gotten funds through various other accounts.

Kenta Fabian, a close friend and church member of Williams, recruited other individuals to apply for loans at the credit union and assisted in falsifying the applications including employment, income and other qualifications necessary to obtain a loan. Fabian is also charged in connection with the use of information of others to fraudulently obtain loans from the credit union. Fabian, 23, recruited family members and assisted them in improperly obtaining loans and received illegal monetary gain from these transactions.

Larry Grace, 38, a former member of Williams' church, criminally used the information of others including his family members and a deceased person to fraudulently obtain funds from the credit union.

Eric Barr, 31, a close friend of Williams, falsified loan applications for both himself and someone else to illegally obtain money from the credit union.

During the course of this investigation detectives worked closely with credit union officials.

"Once we identified the fraud, we contacted the authorities and it is now in their hands," said Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union vice president of risk management Linda Fales.

No credit union members are in financial danger, she said.

"No members are at risk and we appreciate the hard work of our risk management staff, who worked diligently with law enforcement to ensure the safety of our members. Suncoast has a zero tolerance policy related to fraud. We are fully cooperating with law enforcement to ensure that justice prevails."

Williams was fired from the credit union in February, according to officials. He later went to work as a substitute teacher in the Hillsborough County school district.

Williams was charged with identity theft resulting in losses over $5,000, identity theft resulting in losses under $5,000, first-degree grand theft and money laundering. He was released on $51,000 bail.

Fabian, listed in jail records as a technician for the City of Tampa, was charged with identity theft resulting in losses under $5,000 and third-degree grand theft. He was released on $13,500 bail.

Grace, listed as unemployed in jail records, was charged with identity theft resulting in loses over $5,000 and third-degree grand theft. He is being held at the Orient Road Jail on $21,000 bail.

Barr, listed as a barber in jail records, was charged with identity theft resulting in losses less than $5,000 and third-degree grand theft. He was released on $4,000 bond.