JACKSON, Miss.—Federal regulators have expanded their massive fraud lawsuit against former Jackson Area Federal Credit Union CEO Leigh Bridges and her husband, Chad Bridges, adding former branch manager Tina Funez as a defendant and alleging she received hundreds of thousands of dollars in benefits funded with money misappropriated from the credit union.
In an amended complaint filed in U.S. District Court, NCUA alleges Funez, a longtime credit union employee and friend of Bridges, was the recipient of luxury gifts, cash transfers, real estate purchases, international travel and a Tesla vehicle that regulators contend were paid for with funds diverted from Jackson Area FCU.
The amended filing provides the most detailed accounting to date of how individuals beyond Leigh and Chad Bridges allegedly benefited from the scheme.
According to the NCUA, Bridges added Funez as an authorized user on an American Express account that regulators previously identified as receiving more than $14.4 million in payments funded by credit union money. Between 2021 and 2025, Funez allegedly charged $508,035.86 on the card, including purchases of luxury handbags and high-end jewelry.
Regulators further allege Bridges purchased property for Funez on the Honduran island of Utila and paid for all renovations to the residence. The complaint also states Bridges purchased a 2023 Tesla Model Y titled in Funez’s name, gifted her at least 30 designer handbags worth approximately $2,000 each, provided jewelry and a Rolex watch, and paid for pleasure travel that included private aircraft and jet transportation.
According to the amended complaint, Leigh and Chad Bridges also provided Funez with more than $487,000 from their Jackson Area FCU share accounts. The NCUA additionally alleges Funez rented a townhouse owned by the Bridgeses at below-market rates. Regulators contend the transfers and benefits were part of a broader effort to distribute funds allegedly stolen from the credit union and are seeking to unwind the transfers or obtain money judgments equal to their value.
The amended complaint comes as the NCUA continues pursuing recovery of what it now alleges exceeds $51 million in direct misappropriations through false deposit entries and a total credit union deficit of at least $95 million. Regulators allege Bridges admitted during an April 17 meeting with NCUA examiners and board members that she had used credit union funds for personal enrichment, including luxury jewelry, handbags and transfers to personal accounts.
As previously reported by CU Today, the original lawsuit alleged millions of dollars in spending on luxury retailers, including more than $3.3 million at Brooks Collection, approximately $379,000 at Tiffany & Co., purchases from high-end jewelers, luxury vehicles, home renovations, a Steinway piano and other personal expenditures.
Section: Standard
Word Count: 516
Copyright Holder: CUToday.info
Copyright Year: 2026
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URL: https://www.cutoday.info/THE-feature/Jackson-Area-FCU-Scandal-Grows-NCUA-Says-Branch-Manager-Received-Tesla-Rolex-Honduras-Property