The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) announced that it issued one consent-based prohibition order and two prohibition notices in July 2025. These actions permanently bar three former credit union employees from participating in the affairs of any federally insured depository institution.
Raul Villareal, formerly employed by MERCO Credit Union in Merced, California, entered a conditional plea of guilty in Merced County Superior Court to one count of Attempted Grand Theft by Embezzlement under California law.
Ana Alicea, who previously worked at Greater Alliance Federal Credit Union in Paramus, New Jersey, entered a pretrial diversion program for the charge of Theft of Movable Property by Unlawful Taking valued between $500 and $74,999.
Brian Socha, a former employee of MassMutual Federal Credit Union in Springfield, Massachusetts, agreed and consented to the issuance of a prohibition order. He also agreed to comply with all its terms to settle and resolve the NCUA Board’s claim against him.
According to the NCUA: “The NCUA, on occasion, issues administrative orders, which are formal, legally enforceable orders issued pursuant to Section 206 of the Federal Credit Union Act. Generally, the NCUA issues administrative orders when it finds that a credit union — or persons affiliated with a credit union — has violated a law, rule, or regulation; breached a fiduciary duty; or engaged in an unsafe or unsound practice.”
The agency outlined three common types of orders: “An Order to Cease and Desist, which requires an institution or individual to take action (or refrain from taking action), including making restitution; An Order of Prohibition, which prohibits an individual from ever working for a federally insured financial institution; and An Order Assessing Civil Money Penalties, which requires an institution or individual to pay an assessed penalty amount.”
Enforcement orders and notices can be searched by name, institution, city, state and year on the NCUA’s Administrative Orders webpage. The site also provides links to federal enforcement actions taken by other banking agencies.
The public can view NCUA enforcement orders online or request copies by mail from the agency at its Alexandria address.
The NCUA is an independent federal agency established by Congress that regulates and supervises federal credit unions. It manages the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund that insures deposits for more than 135 million account holders across federal credit unions as well as most state-chartered credit unions. The agency also works on consumer protection and financial literacy initiatives.
