New Year, Same Issues
As we've done at the start of each new year, we took time away from the blog. During our absence we did observe that things seemed uncharacteristically quiet at Priority One Credit Union with nothing publicly said about the lawsuit filed by the credit union and its insurance carrier and bond company, CUMIS Insurance Society, against former external auditor, Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad nor was anything disclosed about the lawsuit filed by Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad against the credit union. The seeming quietude was completely out of character particularly when one consider that CUMIS' lawsuit and that of Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad, were scheduled to go to trial this past January. As the last nine years 7 years have taught us, when things are unusually quiet at Priority One Credit Union it is because something is sorely awry. As it turned out, we were correct and at the start of 2016 it is apparent that this is a new year with the same issues plaguing a credit union that has been brought to the point of ruin by it's dishonest and incompetent President, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr., and the corrupt and useless Board of Directors.
A "NEW" BUT TIRED FACADE
In November 2015, there were murmurings at the main branch in South Pasadena, California, that the Board of Directors had gown weary at the number of lawsuits filed against the credit union by former employees, members, by a formerly contracted automobile broker and by the credit union's former external auditor. In fact, the Board allegedly had become concerned by the immense amounts spent on "legal" since 2010. The amount spent on attorneys each year has quadrupled since Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. was appointed President on January 1, 2007.
Another concern has been the incidences of internal thefts all occurring at the Los Angeles branch and have included the theft of more than $60,000 by a former receptionist in 2009 and more recently, the theft of more than $1 million in cash discovered in February 2013 and allegedly embezzled by former AVP, Lynnette Fortson.
In late 2015, the Board was also informed by the credit union's attorneys and consultants that over the past nine (9) years, the credit union's public image and reputation had suffered as a result of the illegal and unethical acts committed by the grossly incompetent President. Furthermore, he had been continually protected and allowed to escape retribution by corrupt Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks.
The Board was also informed that the Board's four Directors had historically proven they are subservient to Mrs. Harris-Brooks, allowing her to implement agendas that had proven harmful to the credit union, both as a business and employer.
The Board and Supervisory Committee were also informed that the thefts occurring at the Los Angeles branch suggested that neither governing body was monitoring the credit union's security protocols and ensuring these are being implemented by all employees on a daily basis.
Earlier this year, Mrs. Harris-Brooks and President Wiggington made a feeble effort to dispel the impression that the Board is comprised of ineffective and unethical Directors. And so, Mrs. Harris-Brooks allegedly amended the credit union's by-laws and added two new Directors which increases the number of Directors from five (5) to seven (7). Prior to January 1, 2007, the date the Board appointed Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. President, the Board consisted of seven (7) Directors but the President and Board Chair had in recent years reduced the number of Directors to five (5) because according to President Wiggington, he and the Board Chair needed to Directors who were willing to support the changes he and Board Chair hoped to make and that would serve to make Priority One a larger, more financially prosperous credit union. What he should have said is that he and the Board Chair needed Directors who are pliable to the whims of this dishonest duo. This year, two new Directors were added to the Board- Tyree Jackson and Art Now. The Board now consists of 6 Black Directors and 1 Latin Director.
In late January the NCUA published the credit union's Financial Performance Report showed that the credit union's asset size had increased slightly and President Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. was quick to point out that Priority One is experiencing, in his opinion, a resurgence in new business and growing. Of course, the credit union's asset size remains approximately $14 million less than what it was on January 1, 2007, the date Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. began his notorious appointment as President. Furthermore, since mid-October 2010, Priority One was forced to divest itself of six branches so it could remain solvent and in business. Less is sometimes more though in the case of Priority One, less always serves as a testament to the business failures of the chronically inept President.
The Holiday Toy Drive
On December 8, 2015, the credit union and the South Pasadena Chamber co-hosted a Holiday Party/Toy Drive at the credit union's main branch in South Pasadena. The affair was certainly quieter than that conducted in 2014. There were less attendees, less carousing under the mistletoe and less alcohol consumption. Notably missing was the presence of children. Here are some photos of the event.
Charles R. Wiggington., Sr.
Rodger Smock, EVP
A photo of the rather spartan open bar
[Photos Courtesy of Pasadena Now]
The Mystery of the Vanishing Lawsuits
So who embezzled more than $1 million in cash?
The credit union's quieter persona during the past four months is purely superficial. In February 2013, President Wiggington ordered the closure of the Los Angeles branch and posting of a notice on the branch's doors informing visitors to the location that the office was closed due to a "power failure." The closure was a not-so-clever ruse by the President to try to deter attention that the branch was closed during which the internal auditor, Diane Huffman, reviewed branch records. When the branch reopened, former Vice President, Yvonne Boutte, called the South Pasadena branch and violating the credit union's policy governing confidentiality, informed her friend and subordinate, Credit Resolutions Supervisor, Alex ("Alejandra") Suarez, that the auditor discovered that large amounts of money had been stolen from the Los Angeles branch's vault by AVP, Lynette Fortson.
Ms. Boutte threatened the staff of the Los Angeles branch with immediate termination if it was discovered that they had communicated with Ms. Fortson during or after working hours. Yes, the threat was illegal, but Mrs. Boutte was known to be a totalitarian.
Over the weeks which followed discovery of the thefts, the President would infrequently refer to the incident stating that the credit union knew who stole the money and that Ms. Fortson would be arrested, indicted, tried, and eventually prosecuted.
In March 2015, the following article regarding the incident, was published by the CU Times:
$1M Vault Pinch Hits Priority One
March 07, 2015
A long-time employee
of the $146 million Priority One Credit Union allegedly stole more
than $1 million, according to a legal complaint filed by the CUMIS Insurance Society against the credit
union’s former accounting firm.
The complaint alleged
the credit union’s manager of its Los Angeles branch, Pearl Lynnette Fortson, began to remove cash from the branch’s vault
in late 2010 and allegedly falsified daily reports to hide loss.
Fortson was hired by
the credit union on Aug. 1, 1974, the complaint said, and Priority One fired
her on Feb. 26, 2013.
The complaint said the
credit union discovered the embezzlement in February 2013 and claimed that
other people may have been involved. CUMIS said it reported
Fortson to law enforcement, but did not say how law enforcement had responded.
The credit union had not yet responded to calls for information on the Fortson
case and CUNA Mutual said it had no further information.
Priority One filed a
dishonest employee loss claim with CUMIS, for which the insurer paid just a
little more than $980,000 after the
credit union’s deductible, and settled the claim. CUMIS then sued Turner,
Warren, Hwang and Conrad Accountancy, the Burbank, Calif., firm that had
audited Priority One’s books since 2008.
CUMIS charged the accounting firm with negligence
in its auditing the credit union’s books and operations.
“Defendant TWHC knew or should have known that
Fortson was employed at the Priority One Los Angeles County Branch and that one
of her duties was to perform reconciliations for that branch,” CUMIS argued in its complaint.
“Defendant TWHC knew or should have known that
Fortson maintained singular control over the vault and vault balancing
sheets for Priority One’s Los Angeles Branch,” CUMIS added.
“If defendants had ever opened the vault,
counted the vault cash, reconciled the counted vault cash to the general ledger
account or reviewed the balancing sheets prepared by Fortson during the course
of their reconciliation of cash accounts, the fraud and embezzlement scheme
would have been discovered by defendants,” CUMIS added.
Turner Warren referred
calls about the case to its attorney, Randall Dean of the Los Angeles firm of
Chapman, Glucksman, Dean, Roeb and Barger.
Dean declined to
comment at length on the case but said the firm considered it entirely without
merit, adding that Turner Warren planned to fight it at trial in June of this
year. He also noted that Priority One had not brought the suit and had
not expressed any disappointment with the firm's actions.
Source: CU Times Article
In CUMIS lawsuit, the actual date when the series of thefts began is stated as occurring in "early or late 2010." Could CUMIS have been more uncertain?
The following key points were made by the CUMIS to the CU Times reporter:
- The embezzlement was discovered in February 2013, approximately three years after the robberies began.
- Ms. Fortson was reported to law enforcement which is not synonymous with being arrested.
- Priority One filed a dishonest employee loss claim with CUMIS in the amount of approximately $1 million but after paying a deductible, CUMIS paid "a little more than $980,000."
- CUMIS sued Priority One's external auditor, Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad, because of negligent auditing which did not meet state mandated auditing standards.
- CUMIS insisted that Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad "should have known that" that Ms. Fortson was responsible for performing branch reconciliations.
- Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad "should have known that" Ms. Fortson maintained "singular control over the vault and vault balancing sheets" for the Los Angeles branch.
- Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad never "opened the vault, counted vault cash, reconciled the counted vault cash to the general ledger account or reviewed the balancing sheets" for if they had, "the fraud and embezzlement scheme would have been discovered"by the external auditor.
With the certainty that CUMIS and the credit union knew for a fact who was responsible for the thefts, it came as no small surprise that on December 16, 2015, CUMIS' attorney filed a Motion to Dismiss with prejudice, the lawsuit filed against the alleged embezzler, Lynnette Fortson. So what about CUMIS' statements to the CU Times or the disclosures verbalized by Mrs. Boutte and the President?
So why would CUMIS file a motion to dismiss when it was they who revealed to the CU Times that Pearl Lynnette Fortson absconded with more than $1 million?
Ms. Fortson proved to be more clever and even shrewder than the credit union's and CUMIS' attorneys. Following the filing of CUMIS' lawsuit against Ms. Fortson, responded and moving quickly, filed for bankruptcy. Clearly, she understood that if she were tried and found guilty, the court could order restitution. However, if she could be granted bankruptcy, then she could not be ordered to pay restitution.
BANKRUPTCY REPORT
Pearl Lynnette Fortson
- 2:14-bk-24370-WB
- 7
- July 29, 2014
- November 17, 2014
- http://www.bankruptreport.com/ca/inglewood/fortson-pearl-lynnette
- Filed
What President Wiggington, the credit union's Board of Directors and Supervisory Committee and CUMIS have always avoided explaining is how more than $1 million in cash were embezzled over an approximate 24-month period without the President Wiggington, the Board of Directors, the Supervisory Committee, a COO, a CLO, a CFO, the Accounting Department, the internal and external auditor ever noticing any of several thefts.
Furthermore, Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad were contracted to usually perform an end-of-year audit. Wasn't anyone other than Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad auditing credit union branch records? This is highly unlikely.
What's more, CUMIS told the CU Times reporter that Ms. Fortson had "singular control" over vault cash and vault balance sheets. How is it possible that she possessed singular control? Credit Union dictates double-custody when branch vaults are entered. And how did she physically remove thousands of dollars in cash, each time she allegedly removed money from the vault without anyone in the branch ever noticing? Aren't their cameras located just outside the vault?
CUMIS also told the reporter that Ms. Fortson may have had accomplices but to date, no verification of this has ever emerged.
Additionally, there are no records any action being taken against Ms. Fortson, including a record that she was ever arrested.
THE MOTION TO DISMISS
Here is a copy of the proof of service (delivery) submitted to the court by CUMIS' attorneys.
The December 16, 2015 Request for Entry of Dismissal was filed with prejudice for the all actions originally filed against Ms. Fortson. "With Prejudice" means the lawsuit filed against Ms. Fortson is permanently being closed and no other action can ever be filed against her on the same claim. According to the sate of California, three possible reasons for requesting dismissal of a case with prejudice are:
- The case was settled and the amount agreed upon was fully paid.
- The defendant named in the case is not the right person or business.
- The case has already been heard and decided upon before – for example, in another court.
Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad
“Defendant TWHC knew or should have known that Fortson maintained singular control over the vault and vault balancing sheets for Priority One’s Los Angeles Branch,” - CUMIS, CU Times, $1M Vault Pinch Hits Priority One, David Morrison, March 7, 2015
In 2015, CUMIS showed no qualms in accusing Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad of negligence and of indirectly, allowing the thefts of more than $1 million in cash to go unnoticed. Despite their public statements denouncing the external auditor, on December 15, 2015, CUMIS" attorneys filed another Motion to Dismiss, this time withdrawing the lawsuit filed against external auditor, Turner, Warren, Hwang. The external auditor in turn, filed a motion to dismiss their lawsuit filed against Priority One Credit Union. However, unlike the motion filed to dismiss the lawsuit against Lynnette Fortson, the motions filed by CUMIS and Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad were filed with prejudice. What this means is that they may refile their lawsuits at anytime in the future suggesting the motions were not the result of entering into settlement agreements.
So what happens next? Is there another suspect in this case who may have absconded with the $1 million? And will CUMIS continue its relationship with the credit union? After all, this is a credit union who under President Wiggington has been the subject of internal thefts and losses incurred as a result of its failure to adhere to its own security protocols.
How Long is Enough?
Last year we reported that President Wiggington had put his home in Echo Park/Silverlake up for sale. This is the same residence that he boasted about in years past including declaring that the property had been appraised to be worth more than $1 million, that it housed an extensive and valuable art collection and a large and impressive "tuxedo collection." The home is 982 square feet in size prompting us to wonder, where does he store his amazing collections.
His decision to sell his home followed an attempted robbery of his residence. A friend of his family informed us that he allegedly boasted to neighbors about the home's luxuriant trappings and it would seem, someone believed his far-fetched concoctions.
His decision to sell his home followed an attempted robbery of his residence. A friend of his family informed us that he allegedly boasted to neighbors about the home's luxuriant trappings and it would seem, someone believed his far-fetched concoctions.
As shown below, the home has now been on the market for more than 163 days which is a very long time for a home to remain unsold. Evidently, the President is experiencing as much difficulty in selling his home as he did trying to convince the court that the theft of $1 million at the credit union was the fault of shoddy auditing practices. If anyone is interested, give his real estate agent a call. Maybe he'll negotiate a reduced selling price.
Photograph of the house and trash cans
Conclusion
In 2013, President Wiggington and now former AVP, Yvonne Boutte, disclosed that evidence gathered by the credit union's internal and external auditors revealed that a large amount of money had been embezzled from the Los Angeles branch by former AVP, Lynnette Fortson.In fact, these two paragons of leadership and professional acumen declared that the evidence against Ms. Fortson was so telling and condemning that it would eventually result in her conviction.
In 2015, CUMIS Insurance Society told the CU Times that more than $1 million in cash had been embezzled from the vault of the Los Angeles branch's vault by Ms. Fortson. They also told the publication that the credit union's external auditor, Turner, Warren, Hwang, and Conrad failed to audit vault cash and vault balance sheets which impeded the discovery of disparities that would have revealed the thefts perpetrated by Ms. Fortson.
In spite of the allegedly vast horde of evidence gathered against Ms. Fortson and the fact that she allegedly stole more than $1 million in cash, last year, on December 16, 2015, CUMIS' attorney filed a motion seeking dismissal without prejudice of the lawsuit filed against Ms. Fortson. So what does the motion say about CUMIS' competency as an insurance and bond company or that of it's "specialists"?
What we also find peculiar is that even though she was publicly accused of stealing more than $1 million and terminated as a result of the theft, Ms. Fortson has never filed a lawsuit against Priority One Credit Union or CUMIS citing defamation or wrongful termination?
It is also strange that CUMIS also filed a motion to dismiss their lawsuit filed against Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad when they clearly made statements to the CU Times that the accounting firm been grossly negligent in auditing Priority One's records. It doesn't appear that the dismissals were the result of settlements entered into by CUMIS and Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad as the dismissals were submitted without prejudice which means the lawsuits can be refiled at sometime in the future.
And why was the evidence provided by CUMIS to the credit union and used to file a counter-lawsuit against Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad so imbued with issues that the court could not allow the lawsuit to proceed to trial?
Lastly, why is it that neither the credit union or CUMIS have ever explained how a series of thefts could occur over an approximate 24-month period without being discovered by President Wiggington, the Board of Directors, the Supervisory Committee, a COO, a CLO, a CFO, the Accounting Department, the internal and the external auditors? On a related note, in the years before Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. was appointed President, the Supervisory Committee would periodically visit all branches and count vault cash. Why did was this practice stopped?
Over the past 7 years we've reported about the incompetence and unethical proclivities of the President, the Board of Directors and the Supervisory Committee. Under Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. there has been a series of blunders all borne out of his refusal and those of the Board and Supervisory Committee to ensure security protocols are monitored and performed by all employees. It would seem that the the dull officers just don't comprehend that security measures were developed to ensure the protection of member and credit union assets. So how much has Priority One Credit Union spent on litigating the lawsuits involving the theft of more than $1 million in cash? And why would CUMIS pay the $1 million claim filed by the credit union knowing that Priority One has a well-documented history of security breaches all borne out of the President's refusal to abide to security measures?
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89 comments:
So if they are not suing Lynette then who stole the money? Is their premium going up and is cumis going to continue covering these clown? And does Smock look fatter?
How can they drop the lawsuits? What's going on?
So they've spent almost $1 million since 2010 on legal to fend off a bunch of lawsuitts and are now walking away from prosecuting Fortson and are temporarily or permanently dropping the lawsuit against TWHC. How does any of that make sense?
Maybe CUMIS figured out that Lynnette is not the thief but that was after they paid out that huge claim. And maybe they backed off TWHC because they needed P1 to testify and P1's lawsuit got the boot from the court. OBVIOUSLY, Lynette was smart enough to file for bankruptcy and TWHC OBVIOUSLY have a great lawyer who filed motions that made mush out of P1's lawsuit and he probably got enough evidence to prove that Cumis would lose if they went to court. That's probably why Cumis withdrew their lawsuit so that they could try and find real evidence that could convince a jury that it was TWHC and not Charles Wiggington who left the door open for the theft. Are they back to square one? Seems like it.
Okay, I'm going to comment on Charle's crib, I mean crypt. Where on earth would he ever keep his art collection? And who on earth collects tuxedos? I don't think there's enough room in the place to hold meth but you'd have to ask his son, Chuckles Jr. if that's true. And $630,000. I wouldn't pay $6.30 for a place that looks like it's condemned. And those trash cans really brighten up the place. Did you notice the nice lattice work on the porch. Classy. And you can tell he's gone all out on the landscaping.
You know what I never see in photos of his house are his collection of cars. Sometimes you see the old red BMW and at other times you see the even older black BMW or the beat up convertible but never all the cars together. Maybe he borrows them. By the way, I'd buy the trash cans. They're in better condition than the house. John, you're being nice giving him free advertising for selling that dump. After seeing the house I now understand his wardrobe.
I don't get it. Everyone agreed not to sue and Lynnette didn't get arrested and isn't go to go to court. So what happened to the $1 million? I am so glad I closed my accounts at this credit union. Something stinks and its not only Charles.
If I've said it once, I've said it 27 million times, Charles R. Wiggington is an idiot.
Diedra wanted yo keep him when he mailed out all those envelopes with member social security numbers and account numbers printed on the outside, she kept him after he promoted Liz even though she was kiting. She kept him when it was proven he sexually harassed Kim. And she kept him again when he and Bea falsified the financials. She kept him when Jennel stole $60,000 and she kept him again when $1 million were stolen. No surprise that the loser board has kept the village idiot as president and now it turns out they've decided not to arrest the number one suspect or take her to court. Wiggington abd that other moron, Yvonne,said the case against Lynette was open and shut. So what happened to all the dvidence. A lot f us never thought Lynette stole the money. How could one person walk out with one million dollars without ever being seen? It's not possible. So was cash stolen or was this done by altering GL's? Isn't it more believable that Wiggington, Diedra and Cornelia would be able to steal money by playing with ledgers and accounts? I think they should be investigated.
Charles is a moron. Since I left Priority One I have never met anyone who is as stupid, disturbed, obnoxious and deluded as is Charles Wiggington. For those of us who knew him before he became president, we're not surprised that $1 million were stolen just like we weren't surprised when it was discovered he'd sexually harassed Kim or when his son got busted for selling meth. None of it is a surprise if you know Wiggington. I know he's probably been quiet all these months because he hoped no one would ever find out about the dismissals. He didn't want anyone to know that they didn't have a case against Lynnette or Turner Warren Hwang Conrad. This blog has been a thorn in their side for a long time because it reports what they try so hard to hide and then they run around like rats, trying to cover up what's come up in the open. So where is the $1 million? I'd start looking at Wiggington and Diedra. These two are so dishonest, so evil, so treacherous that know one really knows all that they've really done.
If Wig had anything to do with the theft you know he didn't spend any of it on fixing up his house.
I have it on good authority that Wiggy took his cur of the $1 million and squandered it all on "sopping gravy."
Wiggy's house has been on the market for almost 6 months now without even one offer for his dilapidated dump. What gives?
@Chief: I know that it may be hard to believe but his neighborhood has its own gang and is dangerous as Wigg learned last year when thieves tried to break into his home. Now if I was a thief, his is probably not a house I would ever pick to rob. One of his mailmen came to the office and while talking to him he said that Wiggles "lives in dangerous place." I don't think he was speaking figuratively either. He also should probably be selling the place as a tear down and maybe lower the price by $600,000. And if you go inside the house, you'll see that the linoleum needs to be pulled out and the rooms are small. What he should be emphasizing is that huge, tacky satellite dish standing at the back of his property.
Only Wiggles would be dumb enough to buy gravy and maybe old tuxedos.
@Chief Jay Stronbow
Ref: Wig's house. Basically Wiggy thinks he's sitting on a goldmine, so Wiggy refuses to negotiate.
Plus, no one can believe the asking price on Wiggy's house (dump), and that includes his realtor. It's obvious Wiggy is a delusional narcissist to think his property is worth over $640,00, especially since its smack dab in the middle of a gang infested neighborhood.
Yes, Rodger is rapidly gaining weight. A week ago I saw Rodger and Wiggy's uncle at Fat Burger. They were both stuffing their faces with Triple Cheeseburgers and mounds of thick-cut fries, while slurping strawberry shakes
Does anyone know if Wiggy won the Jelking Contest?
Wig lost the contest just like he lost the $1 million, 4000 members, the relationship with postal employees, and his mind. And yes, Miss Rodger is huge. Quick, someone put him back in the ocean.
I thought gay men were supposed to care about their bodies?
So has anyone spoken to Lynnette? What is she up to? I noticed the dismissal doesn't contain a name of her attorney so does that mean she never got a lawyer?
@ Dr. Zsigmundy Freud: You are correct. Wiggy probably does think the condemned house he lives in is a goldmine. It's one of his delusions just like when he used to say women couldn't resist him. Back in 2009 we were at a luncheon and he kept saying that his house had been appraised to be worth $1 million. If that were true, then why is he selling it for $630,000? And one of the employees got called to jury duty for a murder trial. The trial involve a young woman who killed a person. The young woman belonged to a gang located in Wiggy's neighborhood. I looked at crime statistics for his neighborhood and the crime rate is high. Still, a palace like Wigg's has to attract some interest particularly from high-end buyers.
Maybe Wiggington ought to call Lynnette and get a loan to paint, landscape, and add some upgrades to that house. Either that or maybe he can just demolish it since it's already a wreck.
His house has never been worth $1 million. Even if you add Wiggington's house, used beat up BMW collection, his tuxedo and art collections, the total worth doesn't come close to $1 million.
Did anyone notice that the "appliances" listed are "Dishwasher, Dryer, Electric Dryer Hook-up, Garbage Disposer, Gas or Electric Dryer Hook-up, Refrigerator, Washer, Range." So is he including the appliances in the sale of the house? Gross. Can you imagine how clean the refrigerator, washer, dryer and range are?
SO WHERE IS THE $1 MILLION?????????????????????????????
Lynette didn't get an attorney and if she wasn't charged with a crime then she probably didn't have the option of getting a public defender.
Shouldn't Rodger have been dressed like Mrs Santa?
A lot of us have never thought Lynnette stole the money. She knew that even she could not enter the vault by herself. She knew there were cameras watching the area outside the vault. Frankly, she's not that clever. Who had opportunity? The only one would have been Wiggington and his staff at South Pasadena.
Are other credit unions that pay CUMIS for coverage, happy that CUMIS continues its relationship with Priority One? All the money paid out by CUMIS for attorneys came from the money paid into it by its subscribers who are other credit unions. The $980,000 paid in Priority One's claim also came from money paid out by other credit unions. How much money was spent to litigate the lawsuit filed against TWHC and how much to file the dismissals? And obviously CUMIS is still investigating because their first filing lacked evidence and witnesses that would have helped win their lawsuit in court. And why would CUMIS file a lawsuit against Lynette Fortson only to dismiss it with no plans to go after her in the future? Did they accuse the wrong person? And CUMIS is still spending on expensive lawyers using subscriber to dig up evidence that beats TWHC at sometime in the future. And CUMIS screwed up with he So-called evidence they provided to the credit union which was the basis for Priority One's lawsuit filed last year aghast TWHC. The Court rejected Priority One's lawsuit because CUMIS' specialist was unqualified to make the determinations he made. CUMIS better get it together because they've allied themselves to a paraiah like Priorty One.
You'd think that Wiggington was the president of CUMIS.
CUMIS is basically a credit union-only insurance company For comparison purposes if you are insured with Allstate for your auto you might be ticked-off if your neighbor, who is also insured by Allstate causes a10-car collision necessitating Allstate to payout $1,000,00 in claims. While you might be upset with your neighbor, it won't affect your Allstate insurance premiums, and it will hardy cause a ripple in Allstate's profitabilty . Essentially, the $1,000,00 payout for the missing vault cash is business as usual for CUMIS. Bottom line: No consequences or punishment for incompetent Wiggy.
Thank you for the explanation. Too bad, that a buffoon like Wiggington can continue covering up his failures with insurance, attorneys, consultants and a corrupt Board.
You can see that none of the million dollars that was stolen was used on Christmas decorations for the party, on a nice open bar, on a good quality suit for Wiggington to wear, on a membership to Crunch gym for Rodger Smock, or on giving Wiggington's hovel some curb appeal.
Don't insurance companies raise premiums after they pay out claims and at Priority One there have been four major losses (probably more) over the past 5 years? And don't some insurance companies cancel plans coverage if there are too many losses due to negligence, over a short period of time?
Yes, insurance companies do raise premiums and do cancel coverage but CUMIS is either run by huge incompetents or they are so rich that paying out claims year after year to a company that has been robbed many times, due to Wiggington's negligence is no big deal and that would be hard to believe even from a company were paying out claims is business as usual. A few years ago, I got a call from one of CUMIS' auditors because he was investigating a claim filed by Priority One because the credit union forgot to close a checking account that was part of a HELOC after the loan's term expired. The members who took out the loan realized that the checking account was still open and even though they knew the term of the loan had expired, they chose to withdraw $100,000 and not pay it back. CUMIS ended up paying the claim.
Just before I resigned, the credit union discovered that a Janell at the L.A. office had been withdrawing money from member accounts and depositing the stolen money in a dummy account she set up. She left the credit union and with help of her family withdrew the tens of thousands of dollars she'd stolen and it wasn't until months later that the a member noticed money had been stolen from her IRA. Priority One never noticed the theft and apparently old Wiggington, Diedra and Cornelia weren't doing their jobs and allowed the thefts to continue.
A lot of people probably remember that back in 2007, Wiggington decided he wasn't going to perform the security protocols and review envelopes that were prepared to be sent to members. Because of his refusal, the envelopes went out with member account numbers and SS numbers printed on the outside of the envelope. Wiggington is a moron and he's dishonest. Losses occur under him because he is a horrible president and he refuses to enforce security. Diedra also protects him and lets him get aways with breaking the law and policy and it's because of her, the board and the supervisory committee that Priority One is losing money.
@Charles Wiggington: You told us you lived in a million dollar house but I know this shack Isn't it. Please tell me you have a second home where you keep all those really expensive paintings you said you've been collecting. And where's that old beat-up BMW you said was worth $100,000? You know, the one with that big built in phone that's as big as a walkie talkie. You said your house was big but it's only got two bedrooms and is less than 1000 sq ft in size. Come on Charles, say it ain't so and show everybody pictures of the house you used to tell us about or we're going to think you lied.
The only reasons I can think of for Cumis not going after Lynnette, the number one suspect in the theft is because they didn't have enough proof or they cut a deal with her but that doesn't explain why she wasn't arrested. If she's not the thief than who is? This is so bizarre and suspicious.
Wig's house looks abandoned and haunted.
Our Committee is deeply disappointed by the incessent maligning of President Charles Wiggington by the whiners on this site. Even after all the outstanding accomplhments spearheaded by CEO Wiggington you haters continue to hate.
Let us remind you P1's Net Worth is an excellent 8.93%. And the Delinquency Ratio is at an all-time low of 0.12% - a ratio which is much better than peer credit unions. These are indisputable facts that any of you haters can verify on the NCUA FPR Call Report.
After the initial quarter of 2016 is uploaded to the NCUA website all you haters and crybabies will see once again Priority One is posting fantastic results. For this, the members and the Board of Directors all owe a great deal of gratitude to the superb management assembled by a great man - our leader Charles Wiggington.
@ Committee:
When you wrote, "our Committee", who were you referring to, you and the voices in your head?
Whiners? Have you ever heard Miss Charles talk about how the credit union's problems were caused by the U.S. economy, unemployment, Bea, Diedra< Yvonne, competition with other credit unions, an invisible group of employees who are out to get him. Actually, your posts are rather whiny and frankly, you sound like a bitch.
Yes, Wiggington has made some accomplishments. Who can forget how he sexually harassed an employee which no other president at Priority One had ever done.
Lower delinquencies because of less loans being funded, moron. And why is it that Bankrate keeps pointing out that they don't generate sufficient income to adequately offset their overhead? Oh yes, you are incapable of objectivity and haven't to defend the industry's biggest dumbass.
Why don't you crawl back up Charles' flat derriere and this time, stay there.
I think the committee is Robert West. Rodger is too big a sissy to defend Wiggington publicly plus he knows better than to try. Esmeralda is a door knob so there is no way she could write an opinion. Her specialty is posting pictures of make-up on her Instagram account. She's just not smart enough to write anything more complex than a shopping list. Patti Loiacano doesn't want the limelight and the other managers at Priority One don't really want to get into Wiggington's mess. They have to work with Wiggington but it's not because they want to.
Does anyone know who are the members of the Committee For Vindication? My best guess is it's a group of prime gravy lovin' Wiggy ass-kissers.
@Alex Trebek
Who fits the bill to be on the Committee: Robert West is exactly the type of fraidy-cat, toady, religious zealot, ass-kisser to be a founding Committee member.
$630,000 asking price! Is Wiggy asking for a premium on his home because it has that huge satellite dish on the roof, or is he trying to contact extra-terrestrials?
CUMIS is less than worthless. They pay all claims and increase premiums to all credit unions to cover the damn losses. They are worthless. This chick pulled off the embezzlement easy. All she had to do, and in fact what she did, was DEBIT & CREDIT journal entries on the credit union computer. Transfer $10,000 from the ATM vault to her personal checking account. Then she takes her Priority 1 CU debit card and go shopping. And she would repeat these $10,000 journal entries every week & BINGO. She never had to leave the credit union with a suitcase of money. She could do it by way of her damn debit card. She controlled the ATM Vault. She controlled the CA$H vault. No 1 was looking. There was no damn DUEL control. The Village Idiots running the store had no clue. The Village idiots running the store remain without a clue. The Supervisory Committee should be named the STUPIDVISORY Committee. They are as dumb as the CEO. This credit union mirrors the Post Offiice...they are both knocking on Bankruptcy's door.
@ Anonymous: That's a really great explanation of how the $1 million could have been takn from the vault. So many people in the industry are at a loss to explain how anyone cou,d steal that much CASH without the credit union noticing until three years had passed. CUMIS certainly is intimately familiar with the credit union's decision not to enforce security. I think other credit unions who pay into CUMIS should demand that CUMIS end its relationship with priority one.
The satellite dish is probably worth more than Wiggington's house, all his old BMW's, his art and his tuxedo collections. And I can't think of anyone in the company outside of Robert who by the way, would have a hard time finding am executive job at any other company, that would feel motivated to write stupid posts using the handle, Committee for Vindication. In fact, the alleged committee is so stupid that they chose a name that says Wiggington needs to be vindicated. If hasn't done anything wrong why does he need to be vindicated.
I have it on good authority the Committee For Vindication held a secret meeting in the storage room of the local Fat Burger last week to review ways to counteract the negativity concerning Charles Wigginton, and the successful continued "framing" of Lynette and the "stolen" $1,00,000 in this blog. The clandestine gathering was attended by noted kiss-asses Robert West,, Diedra and Rodger Smock.
I'm sure Wiggles was quiet these last few months just hoping that no one would ever find out that the credit union's lawsuit sank faster than you can say, "Rodger must weigh 400 pounds." He also tried so hard to hide the fact that after slandering Lynnette and declaring she stole $1 million in cash, that CUMIS had ask the court to dismiss their lawsuit against her. And obviously CUMIS didn't have enough evidence to go after TWHC and win.
Every so often, people post comments asking how come Wiggles has never been fired, after all, he has violated so many laws and policies that would have justified giving him the boot. Diedra who is actually the board and her puppets/dogs/flying monkeys, have spent years defending Wiggles and spending credit union money to make sure he stays president. Even after he promoted Liz who was later fired for kiting or after he mailed out those ballots with member account and social security numbers printed on the outside of the envelopes and even after it was proven he sexually harassed an employee and after he was forced to close 6 branches and yet Diedra made sure he stayed president. Now I wonder, if $1 million in cash were stolen, why does he remain president? I suspect that he and Diedra no more about how the money was really stolen so the big question is "who at the credit union really stole the money?"
Wigg, Wigg's uncle, West and the board consider fat burgers high cuisine.
I once heard Wiggy's uncle say Fat Burger is high cuisine if it's smothered in gravy.
How many people think Wig had absolutely no knowledge about who stole the $1 million? And how many people think Diedra and Wg had no involvement in the thefts? It's just not possible these people don't know. If they don't know, they should be fired for stupidity.
I agree, with his horrible track record, all his illegal acts and let's not forgot the lawsuits filed by ex-employees that P1 paid money to settle and with the thefts at the L.A. branch and it does look suspicious why the BLACK board fights so hard to keep the BLACK president. Another thing, Cornelia Simmons in the supervisory committee chair and every year without fail, she and the committee issue a statement that according to the supervisors, all safeguards are up and working and there are no problems with security. She wrote this in 2009, when the receptionist at the L.A. branch stole $60,000 from member accounts. Cornelia also wrote this same statement in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 when several thefts took place and more than $1 million in cash were stolen from the Los Angeles branch. If you go back to her old address, she even complimented Turner Warren Hwang & Conrad for their great work as external auditor for P1. Why didn't the supervisory committee ever notice one single of the many thefts that happened at that branch? And why didn't ghetto queen, big mouth, useless, evil, Diedra Harris Brooks as head of the board ever notice that something was wrong at the Los Angeles branch. How is that possible? I agree, there is something suspicious about the entire thing and why did CUMIS drop its lawsuits against Lynnette who was supposedly the thief and against TWHC who they said let the thefts happen? The credit union needs a thorough audit of all records and Wiggington, Harris-Brooks, and Cornelia "Useless" Simmons need to be investigated.
CUMIS dismisses the case cause it's an inside job. All fingers are pointing directly at you Wiggy.
By the way, nice open bar at the holiday party. What happened to the liquor? Did Wiggington steal most of it and take it home before the party started?
You're right, something stinks with this whole situation and if Lynnette didn't steal the money and if there wasn't enough evidence to proceed to court against TWHC, then who stole the money? No one else has been accused, fired or arrested for stealing the money.
Are the two new directors black?
Why the 2 new board directors are probably black:
1. When there were white directors on the board, Diedra was always upset because unlike the ones that are on the board now, those would actually question some of her proposed changes. Intellect is her enemy.
2. Marchica is latino but he is also old and hardly ever attends board meetings because he lives too far away. So why not resign so Diedra can replace him with another black director.
3. Asians are unknown territory for Diedra and she's probably afraid they unlike her and the other directors, could read and understand financial reports.
3. Under Diedra, all the black directors are ignorant and useless which is perfect for the messed up chairperson. They don't question her decisions. They obey her every order. She's says fetch and they fetch. And most of them believe O.J. didn't do it. Ask them, staring with O. Glen Saffold.
Diedra has held on to her seat as board chair like a hawk holds on to a chicken. She cheated at elections, she lied and if you haven't noticed, she never orders a review of director and supervisor credit reports, including her's and Cornelia's. She is a piece of work, a liar, dishonest as they come and with all those fine qualities, is anyone surprised more than $1 million was stolen, in cash no less, and no one seems to know who took it. Whew!!!! Thank goodness CUMIS paid that claim.
Well through a process of elimination you might get a general idea of the direction of who is responsible for the money that was stolen at the Los Angeles branch.
1. CUMIS told the CU Times that Lynnette committed embezzlement. They said she had control over all the vault records. They also said that TWHC failed to notice any of the thefts because they didn't audit vault records which they were supposed to do. Because of their failure, the thefts went unnoticed and continued until sometime in 2012.
2. CUMIS sued Lynnette and TWHC but 5 months ago permanently dropped the lawsuit against Lynnette. Stealing money from a any financial institution is a violation of federal law and a felony. So why wasn't she arrested, tried or convicted if she stole the money? And why have they dropped their lawsuit against TWHC?
3. The Board is supposed to monitor the credit union's activities, so how did Diedra Harris-Brooks who has boasted she was a manager at the postal service and who "took some computer classes" at the University of Phoenix miss all of the many thefts that occurred over a 2 year period?
4. Cornela is the supervisory committee chair and they oversee security but apparently she and all the supervisors missed noticing several thefts that occurred over a 2 year period. Were they sleeping or in a coma?
5. Yvonne Boutte worked out of the Los Angeles branch after the audit discovered that the $1 million were stolen. She warned the staff that they could never speak to Lynnette again and then over the next few weeks made life so miserable for the employees at the Los Angeles branch that several quit and others left on sick leave and never returned.
What is clear is that Diedra and the board have used credit union money over the past 9 years to hire attorneys to cover up Wiggington's abuses and hide the fact that he is a sexual harasser, that he stole a member's car, that he has often violated security procedures, that spent huge amounts of money hiring hit men to drive "enemy" employees out of the credit union and to hide the fact that he is probably one of the worst credit union presidents in all of the industry. So who stole the money? Well, these people spend so much money hiding what they do so logically, I'd start auditing all of Priority One's records and then investigating everyone of it's officers. If Lynnette didn't steal the money like Wiggington and Yvonne said she did, then one of them knows who did.
P.S. And why was Yvonne fired in 2015?
I always found it weird that Big Foot got canned. She was buddies with Bea Walker who promoted her but when they had a falling out all she did was go around the South Pasadena branch telling people how stupid and emotionally out if control Bea was. She helped Wigginton build a case against Bea. And she made life awful for lots of employees in credit resolutions, the call center, member services and the LA branch. Smock covered for her and she and Patti Loiacano labeled employees they didn't like. She was. Wiggington's dog and she went around doing his dirty work. I don't know why he fired someone who had a lot of information about his business dealings except he paid her a nice severance package for her not to sue or expose him.
They're neve going to be audited because members no longer car about the credi unions future. Nothing but a bunch of crooks.
Wow, wow, wow. Oh ya, nice house Wig.
Rumor has it there are other lawsuits filed against the credit union. You know it's a cover-up when Charles causes the credit union to be sued more than 12 times in 5 years and Diedra still spends hundreds of thousands on lawyers to make sure he stays president. He should be sentenced and forced to live in that shack he owns for the rest of his life.
It's probably not a rumor. There are three things you can say about the credit union:
1. Charles Wiggington is a slacker
2. Rodger Smock is way overweight
3. They credit union is always going to have legal problems as long as old, over the hill, tired Diedra is board chair.
Well, one thing is for sure. The 6 year wage freeze didn't touch Smock at all. You know at 400 plus pounds, he's eating and he's eating good. Nice to be the recipient of a high undeserved salary, fat boy.
You guys probably already know they got sued again and are going back to court later this year. Wiggles says it's people just trying to squeeze money out of the credit union but thats what he always says.
LOL. That Christmas party. No expenses spared, huh, Wiggles? I didn't see any Christmas decorations. Can't P1 afford them anymore? Let's see- no napkins, no paper cups, no coffee, few promotional giveaways, few office supplies.... the list is endless of all the improvements Charlie Wigglesbottom has made. Way to go, boy!
1st quarter results are posted on the NCUA website!
All praise to President Charles Wiggington and his excellent management team. The Board of Directors should be applauded for showing strong support for our great CEO.
Verily, Praise the Lord. The naysayers have been vanquished, rebuked and smited. The financials speak for themselves, and they speak loud and clear to all the haters who post negative comments on this blog. Let's us be the first to rub your nose in it.
The Financial Performance Report (FPR) has just been posted on the NCUA website, and as our Committee predicted the results for the 1st quarter of 2016 are spectacular thanks to the stellar guidance of P1 's outstanding CEO.
Net profit for the quarter is $140,200.
Net Worth has climbed to 8.96%.
Loan Delinquency has dropped to an all time low of 0.06%.
Our Committe encourages all readers to check out the official results on the NCUA website to verify what we say is true.
Now you must support your leader or forever keep your lips sealed.
Dissecting the Committee of Vindications Blather
COV: All praise to President Charles Wiggington and his excellent management team. The Board of Directors should be applauded for showing strong support for our great CEO.
Reply: Only praise God and never sexual harassers who ruin business and their reputations.
COV: The naysayers have been vanquished, rebuked and smited.
Reply: The credit union lost $22 million from 2007 - 2010 thanks to old poop for brains, car stealer, Charlie Wiggington. The credit union is now worth $14 million less than it was in 2007. They've been sued more than 10 times since 2010 and under Wiggington's watch, more than $1 million in cash were stolen from the L.A. branch.
COV: Net profit for the quarter is $140,200.
Reply: So why have they lost more than $14 million since 2007?
COV: Net Worth has climbed to 8.96%.
Reply: That's net capital you twit (there is no committee, it's one guy). Net capital is high because there is less branches, less loan funding, less money spent on marketing, business development and oh yeah, a 5-year employee wage freeze.
COV: Loan Delinquency has dropped to an all time low of 0.06%.
Reply: Yes, because they're funding a lot less loans and the many real estate loans they used to fund are now only one- HELOC's. Sad, oh so sad.
The credit union has also spent more than $1/2 million in legal since 2007 something the tard committee (only 1 guy) always avoids mentioning.
Committee = Robert West
Anagram Generator:
Wiggington = Nogging Twig
Ironic. Wiggy named one of his body parts Nogging Twig.
The "committee" is pathetic. They, I mean he, always leaves out the part that P1 has lost more than 4000 members since Wiggington became President or that they've lost millions dollars and closed 6 branches. The committee doesn't live in denial, it lives in a bubble.
I thought they removed his body part 2 years ago.
He was born without it, that's why he used to tell all those tall tales about his sexual escapades.
Robert West was seen at last Saturday's Black Lives Matter protest holding a slob sign . His tired ass sure looked mad .
Lol! Noway! West is a proteshay of Black Lives matter
Robert West could easily be a member of BLM because all you need is to be racist, hate Whites, be lazy, lie, backstab and be a hypocrite. Priority One is a racist CU, run by a huge misonygist named Charles Wiggington who makes Harvey Weinstein look virginal. Diedra is tha Maxine Waters of the industry and I am surprised she and Cornelia Simmons don't wear big bright hats like racist Rep. Frederica Wilson.
So what is Rodger? He's always been a yes man, lazy, cowardly and Wiggington's personal white man (?) servent.
Rodger is a panderer. He will do anything to keep his job. One because he's lazy and no other company would hire particularly at his age. He was also fired by the company where he worked at before coming to P1. One day old, dirty former board director, Thomas Gathers, screamed at him and a tearful Rodger ran into Wiggington's office crying that he'd been screamed at. He's lazy and he pretends to be your advocate but will as easily turn against you. If it wasn't for Rodger, many employees would never have been harassed. Wiggington is the Harvey Weinstein of the credit union industry. Smock Bill Clinton. Really a horrible man who wears that "I'm your grandma" face.
Robert West is a racist. He always showed a preference to Blacks but males, not Black females. He's lazy, useless and unnecessary. He used to train employees. He proved to be a cure for insomnia. Just the worst. A wolf in sheep's clothing. Well a cowardly wolf in sheep's clothing. He let employees get fired because who else is going to hire him or give him an executive title with 2 1/2 hour lunches per day?
So agree. Rodger is a panderer and backstabber. He enabled Wiggington.
Just found out their membership is 18,319. They've lost more than 10,000 members in 10 years. If you need proof of how awful they are, this is it.
Dishonest, racist Diedra Harris-Brooks is still board chair? And Bobby Thomas, Richard Hale, O. Glen Saffold, Secretary, Tyree Jackson and Art Now are on the board. All the same color. And William Brinkley who got setup and fired by Wiggington years ago. Probably the only one with any character.
Yup, the clowns are still in charge. Easy Wiggsie Lemon Squeezy is still president.
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