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Outlets differ on whether Leigh Bridges pleaded guilty in the Jackson credit union case

Jackson, MississippiPublished 29 Sep 2026

WLBT and CUToday.info reported a guilty plea Monday in federal court in Jackson. WAPT reported that the filing does not show a plea. SuperTalk reported the charges.

Leigh Bridges, the former chief executive of Jackson Area Federal Credit Union, faced a federal criminal information in Jackson on Monday charging theft of credit union funds, false statements, and a false tax return. WLBT and CUToday.info reported that she pleaded guilty, that a judge left a $25,000 bond in place, and that sentencing is February 25. WAPT reported that the filing does not show a guilty plea and does not say whether she has been released. The outlets also describe an NCUA civil case, and they do not agree on whether an October 16 hearing is in Judge Daniel Jordan’s courtroom or in Gulfport.

Shared facts

Deidre Colson said Leigh Bridges had been altering credit union statements since the late 1990s or early 2000s to hide shortfalls.

Leigh Bridges began working at Jackson Area Federal Credit Union in 1992.

Prosecutors say Leigh Bridges began embezzling Jackson Area Federal Credit Union funds as early as 2011.

Leigh Bridges made false deposits into four accounts tied to herself, her mother, and her husband.

Prosecutors said Leigh Bridges used an administrative code to make transactions in JAFCU accounts.

Leigh Bridges disguised deposit entries as electronic transfers from outside companies.

Leigh Bridges entered false debits in JAFCU’s books to hide the transactions.

Leigh Bridges is accused of spending credit union funds on real estate, travel, vehicles, jewelry, or other luxury goods.

Prosecutors listed a $1.2 million Sleepy Hollow Drive property, a $271,000 townhome, and a $655,000 Alabama condominium among the purchases.

Prosecutor Deidre Colson said Leigh Bridges embezzled more than $69 million from Jackson Area Federal Credit Union.

Prosecutors said the scheme left Jackson Area Federal Credit Union insolvent.

Leigh Bridges left her post at Jackson Area Federal Credit Union in April 2026.

The National Credit Union Administration is conservator of Jackson Area Federal Credit Union.

The National Credit Union Administration filed a civil lawsuit over Jackson Area Federal Credit Union.

The civil suit names Leigh Bridges, her husband Chad Bridges, and Tina Funez.

The civil suit alleges as much as $95 million was misappropriated.

A hearing in the civil case is scheduled for October 16.

Prosecutors brought the case by a criminal information in the Southern District of Mississippi.

Leigh Bridges is charged with theft of federal credit union funds, false statements to a federal credit union, and filing false tax returns.

A judge set Leigh Bridges’s bond at $25,000.

Sentencing for Leigh Bridges is set for February 25.

Judge Daniel Jordan said probation is not an option because two counts carry more than 25 years.

The government intends to seek forfeiture and restitution as part of a plea agreement.

Chad Bridges was not in court on Monday.

Disputed facts

Sources disagree on whether Leigh Bridges became JAFCU chief executive in 2021 or 2022.

Sources disagree on whether the October 16 civil hearing is in Judge Daniel Jordan’s courtroom or in Gulfport.

Sources disagree on whether Leigh Bridges pleaded guilty on Monday.

Sources disagree on whether Leigh Bridges is free while the case is pending.

Sources give different maximum prison terms for Leigh Bridges, including 30 years plus three years, 63 years, and 70 years.

WLBT

Former JAFCU head pleads guilty to three federal counts

Published 28 Sep 2026 accessed 29 Sep 2026

Facts

Leigh Bridges appeared in U.S. District Court on Monday.

Deidre Colson said Leigh Bridges made all these purchases in cash and in full.

Before leading the credit union, Leigh Bridges served as comptroller, senior account manager, and chief financial officer.

Deidre Colson said that if the case went to trial, prosecutors would prove Leigh Bridges altered corporate statements to cover up the embezzlement.

Deidre Colson said Leigh Bridges later began stealing money being transferred to JAFCU.

Leigh Bridges and her husband have moved out of the Sleepy Hollow residence.

Opinion

Leigh Bridges likely will face jail time.

WAPT

Leigh Bridges waives indictment; judge approves $25,000 unsecured bond

Angela Williams

Published 28 Sep 2026 accessed 29 Sep 2026

Facts

Court filings say Leigh Bridges waived her right to a grand jury indictment.

Leigh Bridges is accused of altering a July 2025 corporate bank statement to inflate reported funds by nearly $90 million.

Leigh Bridges’s 2024 tax return reported income of $359,633, which prosecutors say was far less than her actual earnings.

The government filed a notice of intent to seek criminal forfeiture of property connected to the alleged offenses.

No arrest date or custody status was included in the filing when the charges were announced.

Opinion

No opinion marked.

SuperTalk Mississippi

Former Jackson credit union CEO facing federal charges tied to $95M embezzlement scandal

Caleb Salers

Published 28 Sep 2026 accessed 29 Sep 2026

Facts

Leigh Bridges faces federal charges tied to a $95 million embezzlement scandal.

Leigh Bridges’s misuse of funds is said to have begun a decade before she took over as an executive.

Leigh Bridges reportedly hid the transactions by falsifying invoices and misrepresenting the actual costs.

NCUA Board officials argued that Leigh Bridges admitted to abusing funds in her office and concealing the transactions.

In June 2024, investigators found Leigh Bridges had allegedly wired $378,780 to Tiffany & Co.

That transaction was reportedly altered to show Raymond James as the beneficiary.

Leigh Bridges is the only person allegedly involved in the scandal who is facing federal charges at this time.

Opinion

No opinion marked.

CUToday.info

Former JAFCU CEO Pleads Guilty In Multi-Million-Dollar Embezzlement Scheme

Published 28 Sep 2026 accessed 29 Sep 2026

Facts

The plea came the same day Leigh Bridges officially became a defendant in a federal criminal case.

Monday’s filing was the first time Leigh Bridges had formally faced federal criminal charges in the scheme.

Opinion

No opinion marked.