Former Navy Federal Employee Charged In $357K Theft, Fraud Case

April 6, 2023

A former Navy Federal Credit Union employee has been arrested for grand theft and fraud in connection with over $350,000 in fraud from account holders.

Johnathan Toriana Coleman Jr., 28, of Delray Beach, was charged with one felony count each of bank fraud, grand theft and organized fraud.

The investigation showed that Coleman used his position while employed in Pensacola to supply customer account information to a third party, who would pose as the member and initiate unauthorized transfers of funds to mule accounts at the credit union.

Agents discovered that Coleman helped defraud 38 account holders out of a total of $357,491, and that, within three days of each illegal transfer made by the third party, Coleman received payments from the third party totaling nearly $30,000.

All of the affected account holders have since been notified by the credit union.

Agents with FDLE’s Miami Regional Operations Center, with assistance from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, arrested Coleman. Coleman was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail on $115,000 bond. He will be extradited to Escambia County

Comments

13 Responses to “Former Navy Federal Employee Charged In $357K Theft, Fraud Case”

  1. Dontek Drake-Perry on April 8th, 2023 7:28 pm

    I bank with NFCU and last Thursday he probably was the person that got me too the man upstairs gonna take care of you now KARMA is real

  2. Frank on April 8th, 2023 11:13 am

    Throwing a promising career with NFCU and your life away for a meager $30k…so sad.

  3. Todd on April 7th, 2023 12:31 pm

    I have banked with NFCU for nearly 4 decades, since I was a teen. This article appeared on my google news feed. I appreciate the reporting by NorthEscambia and I appreciate the comments by so many people who actually knew and/or worked with the accused. I am thankful that he was caught and I assume NFCU made sure the customers who lost their money got it back. I hope the investigation nets his accomplices. It is so important that those who defraud others through criminal means are processed through a rigorous and fair criminal justice system. Only then can their return to humanity begin and their wounds begin to heal.

  4. Duke of Wawbeek on April 7th, 2023 7:02 am

    In this age of digital checks and balances, armed robbery is more likely to succeed.

  5. Chris on April 6th, 2023 7:23 pm

    I bet my ex-wife, who works for Navy Federal is going to get caught for her fraudulent activities in the very near future.. She’s been under investigation for over a year now. Yep, even HR employees are subject to integrity issues.

  6. Former Acquaintance on April 6th, 2023 6:17 pm

    I’ve known this guy for close to 7 years now and this is surprising but also not. Standout UWF football player, had everything going for himself. On the flip side- he always had a sneaky demeanor about himself and never allowed for people that could see through his close. He was very flashy and wanted everyone to see his expensive lifestyle and how much money he had. It makes sense. Prayers for his sanity and safety but nobody gets away with wrong doing. Especially doing wrong by people and THEIR money.

    It easy to say that grace should be extended in unfortunate situations like this, but at some point, grace runs out.

  7. D on April 6th, 2023 1:51 pm

    I was shocked by this because I know him and despite what people think he wasn’t like
    This I think that sometimes fast money is a down fall like police or prison guards or even some politicians that go bad. So before you judge just know that anyone can be in a similar situation and can fall. Plus I know that the certain credit union is well known. So the others that have commented he worked for that same credit union.
    He was wrong in doing what he done but pray for him don’t judge him.

  8. Molino Mom on April 6th, 2023 10:37 am

    First of all – this “honest employee” wasn’t honest. You don’t just “turn bad” if you are truly an honest person. He’s a despicable thief who deserves to spend a few years in jail at the minimum! He gets no sympathy from me. I work for NFCU and have for many years. They take care of their own and do a great job at it. It’s a shame that this scum got though the hiring process – but it happens in all businesses.
    Good Luck Mr. Coleman – I hope ALL 38 members stand up in court and help prosecute you! You’re where you belong!

  9. Keith on April 6th, 2023 9:39 am

    There is absolutely no possible way that during the investigation, all puzzle pieces would not lead back to the insider participant. The investigation may take time, but there is no way the insider can mask the trail that leads directly back to them. This shows how ignorant people motivated by greed can be.

  10. Kendall on April 6th, 2023 9:25 am

    Disgusting!!! As a Navy Federal Employee, this is just absolutely baffling. To any member that was affected by this mans crime or any other, I am sincerely so sorry. NFCU has your back!! NOT HIS!!

  11. EMD on April 6th, 2023 8:26 am

    Despicable ! ! ! Only God can “fix” us, and only in His Own Way. And, there is Only One.

  12. Steve on April 6th, 2023 8:06 am

    He was never honest. He just keep doing bad things till it was big enough to get caught.
    Taking peoples money they worked hard to get. He should have to pay back every dime with interest. Also those others that helped him too.

  13. Bill T on April 6th, 2023 6:51 am

    Ya see even the a honest employee like this person WAS can go the other way quickly and did !!! The people who were affected was everyone that banks with NFCU !!! But unfortunately he don’t care and thought he was smart enough and distance enough to be safe WELL!!! Wrong and when convicted you will have a long time to think about what you thought you got away with!!!!!