Gregory A. White, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, announced that Nikisha Foster, age 30, of Cleveland, Ohio, was sentenced today to 21 months in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release, following her recent conviction for embezzling approximately $184,630.00 from Third Federal Savings & Loan. Foster was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $137,697.00 to Third Federal Savings & Loan.

On October 15, 2007, a one count Information was filed in U.S. District Court, charging Foster with embezzlement. On October 31, 2007, Foster pleaded guilty to the charge.

According to court documents, Foster was a teller at the Southgate Branch of Third Federal Savings & Loan located in Maple Heights, Ohio. Between September 21, 2004, and October 16, 2006, Foster knowingly embezzled approximately $184,630.00 from Third Federal by fraudulently withdrawing funds from bank accounts of three elderly bank customers without their knowledge or consent. According to court records, Third Federal Savings & Loan successfully recovered approximately $46,933.00 of the stolen funds from Foster upon discovery of the embezzlement.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert W. Kern of the Cleveland U.S. Attorney’s Office, following an investigation by the Cleveland Office of the United States Secret Service.