Federal regulators descended on the Wilkes-Barre City Employees Federal Credit Union on Wednesday, two days after its manager was found dead at his Bear Creek Township home amid an intensifying corruption probe.

FBI agents visited the credit union last Thursday and again on Tuesday and requested "any and all documents" the credit union had for a group of individuals, but the requests did not give any indication what they were looking for, credit union attorney Dominick P. Pannunzio said.

"I am immersed in the middle of this investigation and have no idea as to the scope of the investigation," Pannunzio said Wednesday in an interview at Wilkes-Barre City Hall. "They want any and all documents related to these individuals."

Pannunzio would not reveal the names of the people.

The FBI requested a series of records during the visits to the credit union, but did not seize anything, the attorney said. Pannunzio spent much of Wednesday making photocopies of the files the FBI requested.

"We're complying 100 percent with any legal obligations we have," Pannunzio said.

Three auditors from the National Credit Union Administration, the federal credit union regulator, arrived from Washington, D.C., to analyze the credit union's files.

Jim Payne, the longtime manager of the credit union was found dead at his home Monday as federal agents targeted him as part of the investigation.

Two law enforcement officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the ongoing corruption probe, confirmed Payne was being investigated.

State police said Payne died from a gunshot wound, but that it did not appear to involve foul play. Payne's death came four days after the FBI first served a subpoena at the credit union, located inside Wilkes-Barre City Hall.

Luzerne County Coroner Bill Lisman did not return repeated telephone messages. His office referred questions to state police.

"I would not even know what they wanted him for," Pannunzio said. "The first I heard of the investigation was when I read it in your paper on Saturday. I called him (Payne) on Monday and said, 'How come your attorney is not involved?' He said, 'I thought I could just give them the documents.'"

Payne was found dead several hours later at his Bear Creek Township home.

Sean Quinn, the director of the FBI's Scranton office, acknowledged Tuesday the FBI has launched a corruption investigation and "there will be arrests forthcoming."

The Wilkes-Barre City Employees Federal Credit Union, serves employees of Wilkes-Barre, Wilkes-Barre Township and Plains Township and their families. The credit union has more than 2,200 members and controls assets worth $41.8 million, according to a financial performance report filed with the NCUA. The NCUA's press office did not respond to an email with questions about the Wilkes-Barre credit union.

The NCUA is a federal agency that regulates, charters and supervises federal credit unions, according to its website. The organization also insures members' deposits for up to $250,000, as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation does for bank deposits. Credit unions are non-profit financial institutions that provide some of the same services as banks. Many accept deposits, allow savings and checking accounts and make loans, but return surplus income to members as dividends.

A special meeting of the board of directors was held Tuesday "to review any and all legal matters," Pannunzio said. The credit union already has a local auditor and gets audited by the NCUA, he said.

In light of the investigation, Pannunzio said he has called for another audit by a third party.

"I'm recommending a third party audit to see if there are any funds missing. At this point, there is no indication of any money missing," Pannunzio said.

Members of the credit union should not be concerned anything is missing from their accounts, Pannunzio said.

"We would like to assure members every penny they have is safe," Pannunzio said. "The credit union is viable, every penny is protected."

bkalinowksi@citizensvoice.com 570-821-2055, @CVBobKal