Maumee, Ohio church at center of embezzlement scandal

A former employee of the St. Paul's Community Center has been accused of stealing more than $200,000 from the organization.

Lisa Duda has been indicted by a Lucas County grand jury. The theft was uncovered last September when Duda was confronted by the Board of Directors that she had written some unauthorized checks over a five year period totalling over $200,000. She was fired and a police report was filed.
St. Paul's has a program where they help some of their mentally disabled clients pay their bills. According to Tony Thiros, the President of St. Paul Community Center Board of Directors, the money was allegedly stolen from a reserve fund connected to that program. "The monies that were embezzled or stolen came out of 30 accounts and it was a very slick program and it went on for several years," Mr. Thiros said.
The stolen money has been restored to client accounts from other investments held by St. Paul's. Thiros concedes there is little hope of restitution. "What I'm looking for is to make this an example that any individual who works for a non-profit organization in Toledo that you are not going to get away with this," Mr. Thiros said.