Leight Bridges pleaded guilty to embezzlement charges in federal court this afternoon. Bridges embezzled tens of millions of dollars as President of the Jackson Area Federal Credit Union. Bridges waived indictment and accepted a Bill of Information today.
The Justice Department charged the defendant with theft of funds from a federal credit union, false statement to a federal credit union, and filing false tax returns in a Bill of Information after Bridges waived indictment.
Clad in a black business suit, Bridges and attorney John Collette stood before the Magistrate at her arraignment as she dutifully answered a standard battery of questions used for such hearings.
The Court allowed Bridges to remain free on a $25,000 appearance bond.
Once the arraignment concluded, the festivities moved downstairs to the courtroom of U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan, III where Bridges pleaded guilty to all three charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dee Dee Colson did not state the recommended sentence although she asked the Court to reduce her sentencing classification by one level due to her cooperation.
Judge Jordan set sentencing for February 25, 2027 at 9 AM.
Bridges faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine for the two credit union charges and a prison sentence of 5 years and a $100,000 for the tax evasion charge.
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