Former NWCCU Employee Charged in Embezzlement Involving Deceased Members' Accounts



Eugene, Ore. — A 50-year-old former employee of Northwest Community Credit Union has been charged with multiple felony and misdemeanor counts after allegedly embezzling funds by accessing the accounts of at least 20 deceased members, according to the Eugene Police Department.

The investigation began on September 5, 2025, when the credit union contacted police to report suspected embezzlement by Teresa Lynn Margiotta during her employment. Authorities allege she transferred money from the deceased members' accounts into her own personal accounts for personal gain.

Margiotta faces the following local 66 charges in Lane County:

  • 38 counts of ORS 165.013 Forgery in the First Degree (Felony)
  • 20 counts of ORS Computer Crime (Misdemeanor)
  • 4 counts of ORS 164.057 Theft in the First Degree Aggravated (Felony)
  • 4 counts of ORS 165.803 Aggravated Identity Theft (Felony)
The EPD agency case number is 25-14463.

Additionally, Margiotta apparently has a related pending case involving Peak Credit Union (PCU) in Lacey, Washington as well as here locally. PCU records revealed her misconduct totaled to more than $230,000 in losses to the credit union.

Peak Credit Union is the combined entity formed from the 2025 merger of TwinStar Credit Union and Northwest Community Credit Union, effectively making those its legacy institutions under a new unified brand. So, any previous branches or services from TwinStar and Northwest Community are now part of Peak Credit Union, still serving their communities under the new name. 

Police did not release further details on the amount embezzled or additional victims at this time. 

Information from Eugene Police, Lane County Jail, NCUA.gov, and Peak Credit Union

Michael Weber, known for his extensive coverage of crime news in Lane County, continues to provide valuable updates to the local community. He runs the largest crime watch group in Lane County, Lane County Mugshots Uncensored, which currently has over 89,700 members. Support for local journalism is essential, and donations can be made via Venmo to @Michael-Weber-379 (last four digits of phone number: 0825).





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