Jackson Jambalaya

 Will National Credit Union Administration Board seize family cats? 

A federal judge froze all assets and accounts belonging to Leigh and Chad Bridges in the Jackson Area Federal Credit Union scandal.  Leigh was the President of JAFCU until she was fired earlier this year when the National Credit Union Administration Board uncovered an alleged embezzlement of up to $95 million.  The Bridges allegedly used the funds to purchase a Steinway piano, $10,000 handbags, multiple homes in Eastover and on the beach, and expensive jewelry.  

Leigh Bridges became President and CEO of JAFCU in 2021 after serving as CFO.  She signed all financial statements and handled all account reconciliations for wire transfers. The Board suspended Bridges on April 17, 2026 as it investigated alleged embezzlement by Mrs. Bridges.  NCUAB sued the Bridges for recovery of the funds and asked U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan, III to issue a temporary restraining order against the Bridges on May 14.  Judge Jordan immediately issued the order. 

The complaint claims Bridges made bogus Automated Clearing House entries, large wire transfers to her personal accounts as well as luxury retailers, and fraudulent entries in the general ledger.  In other words, the President allegedly doctored the books while she looted her employer.  Chad and Leigh allegedly used their share accounts at the credit union to further their fraud. 

The parent credit union alleges Leigh made over $51 million in false entries in their share accounts from 2015 to 2026. The complaint spells out how the money was spent.  Earlier post with copy of complaint and list of the loot.

The Bridges have not yet responded to the complaint as they have sixty days to do so since they waived service of process. 

The Court issued a preliminary injunction against the Bridges' yesterday. Judge Jordan decreed: 

* A preliminary injunction is issued against Leigh and Chad Bridges.  The order attaches all property and assets.  The NCUAB is trustee for all assets.  

* All financial accounts are frozen.  The freeze order includes Chad Bridge's family trust.  The couple had accounts at Raymond James Financial, Copiah Bank, Chase Bank, Acorns Investing, American Express Bank, Coinbase Global, First National Bank of Omaha, Kansas City Life Insurance, Goldman Sachs, and Park Avenue Wealth Management. 

* Anyone who helps Bridges dispose of property without court approval is liable. 

* The order covers the homes at Sleepy Hollow (Jackson, Great Southern Road (Hazlehurst), Eastbrook Street (Jackson), Perdido Beach Boulevard (Alabama), all fixtures and furniture within the homes, a 2026 Tesla Model Y, 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250, 2020 Mercedes-Benz G 550, and a 2023 Tesla Model Y. Full insurance coverage must be maintained for property, including collision insurance. 

*  The property that the NCUAB may take custody of under this Order includes all tangible items with estimated resale fair market value of over $100, including but not limited to artwork, antiques, jewelry, furniture, furnishings, furniture, electronics, handbags, clothing, and musical instruments, but specifically excluding real property, fixtures, automobiles, food, alcohol and liquor, cell phones, computers, animals, animal feed, firearms, ammunition, hazardous materials, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, family photographs, bibles or other religious writings, intimate apparel, medicine, medical equipment, illegal contraband, weapons, explosives, and items reasonably believed to belong to someone other than the Defendants. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the NCUAB may elect to not take into custody a particular item or items even though such item meets the inclusion criteria explained in the previous sentence.

Does this mean the Administration will seize the family cats? 

* The Bridges must allow NCUAB agents access to their homes to inventory the contents and take possession of what it deems necessary subject to the limitations of the order.  Judge Jordan will hold the defendants in contempt of court if they deny access between 9 AM and 7 PM. 

* The defendants can only use their vehicles for necessary travel within the city of Jackson or to meet the requirements of the order. 

*  The Bridges can live of off Chad Bridges' income.  However, his employer, the Mississippi Insurance Department, terminated Bridges last month.  

* A list of all personal property must be provided to NCUAB agents within five days. 

* "Within five (5) business days of the entry of this Order, the Defendants will provide to counsel for the NCUAB a list of all persons other than each other receiving gifts of cash of $1,000 or more, or gifts of property with a fair market value of $1,000 or more at the time the gift was made, from Defendants that were made from January 1, 2015 until the present. The list will include the name of the beneficiary of the gift, the date of the gift, the amount or value of the gift, the total value of the gifts made to such person, and the type of property gifted, if applicable. To the extent that this exact information is not known, the Defendants will reasonably approximate the information requested and will note that the information is an approximation in their response."