Police: Couple Caught Stealing $769,000 From Centre County Business

Federal authorities have charged a Port Matilda couple with interstate transportation of stolen property after reportedly stealing more than $769,000 from a Centre County business.

According to U.S. District Court papers filed in Williamsport, Linda and Eugene Cushard have signed documents admitting to illegally obtaining $769,762.64 by repeatedly withdrawing from a Shepard’s Machine Shop bank account.

Authorities say Linda Cushard, a former administrative secretary at Shepard’s Machine Shop in Port Matilda, was moving funds from the business’ Merrill Lynch account to a joint checking account she opened with her husband, Eugene Cushard, at SPE Federal Credit Union in State College.

Shepard’s Machine Shop President John Shepard said Cushard began stealing funds from his business in Port Matilda in 2005 and continued taking money until she was approached by FBI officials at the shop last September.

"It's disappointing. I'm not angry at them, or mad,” said Shepard. “She worked here for 15 years. It's disappointing more than anger. You know, you consider them friends and part of the work family."

Court documents show the Cushards have agreed to make full restitution, but Shepard said he doubts the money stolen will ever be returned.

"I had to borrow money to keep going,” said Shepard. “It takes a long time to build that back up, you know. We're not a large business to recoup that."

WJAC-TV obtained additional documents Thursday, showing that Eugene Cushard defaulted on a $3,000 Sears card and a $94,000 mortgage on the couple’s home in Port Matilda.

Both defaults have since been paid off; authorities wouldn’t say if any of the stolen money was used to pay off either debts.