Fourth Former TTCU Employee Charged as Probe Uncovers $460K Loss

Police have arrested and charged a fourth former employee of the Toledo Teachers Credit Union (TTCU) as investigations continue into major financial irregularities uncovered at the institution’s Bella Vista Branch.  Authorities say Jorge Rodriguez, the former Branch Manager of the TTCU Bella Vista, was arrested this morning in southern Belize and charged with one count of Theft.  Rodriguez’s arrest follows the charging of three former TTCU employees last week, a development first reported by Love News on Friday, January 16. Those charged include 26-year-old Herman Cal of Independence Village, Stann Creek District, who faces one count of Theft; 39-year-old Manuel Cucul, a Belizean police officer of Bella Vista Village, charged with Abetment to Commit Theft; and 24-year-old Kevin Junior Sam, a loans clerk of Bladen Village, Toledo District, also charged with one count of Theft. All three are former employees of the TTCU.  The charges stem from investigations dating back to June 2024, when a report was filed by Leopoldo Romero, who was then the General Manager of the TTCU. That report triggered an internal review of operations at the Bella Vista Branch, followed by an external audit.  According to investigators, the audit uncovered significant financial irregularities, including the fraudulent approval of loans in the names of unsuspecting members and the misappropriation of members’ funds. The findings ultimately led to the termination of the entire staff at the Bella Vista Branch in 2025, including the branch manager.  Investigators say the audit further revealed that approximately four hundred and sixty thousand dollars ($460,000) was unaccounted for. TTCU has since indicated that affected members were reimbursed using the credit union’s reserves, and the matter was formally referred to police for criminal investigation and recovery.  Police say investigations are ongoing, and additional arrests and charges have not been ruled out.