EP robbery leads to embezzlement arrest

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) -- The arrest of a bank robbery suspect in Riverside has lead police to make a second arrest - a bank employee accused of embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars.

A woman held up the Columbus Credit Union on Crescent View Ave. on Tuesday, and took off with about $11,000 while her 3-year-old son sat in the car. Police arrested Jessica Gomes, 34, the following day after an eyewitness caught the license plate of the getaway car.

The ensuing police investigation led to a routine audit of the bank, and as soon as the authorities said the word "audit", an employee of the credit union came clean.

Crystal Ferreira, 26, admitted to stealing $307,000 from the bank since June. She told police she only did it after two men threatened her at knifepoint to steal the money.

Ferreira has been charged with embezzlement and is being held on $30,000 surety bail. Officers tell us they have no leads on the men that she alleges threatened her.

As for Gomes, she was arraigned Thursday and is being held without bail at the ACI for robbing the bank. Police tell us they're also seeking a child neglect charge for leaving her young son in the car.