Treasurer of Austin, Texas Church Grant Committee Arrested

Louanne Aponte's husband, Marco Aponte, was arrested Thursday on money laundering charges. Mrs. Aponte is accused of embezzling nearly $500,000 from two nonprofits: Family Connections and Texas Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies. In the case of Family Connections, Mrs. Aponte allegedly falsified financial statements used in securing government funding -- which subsequently led to the shuttering of the organization.

According to the Statesman, Marco Aponte's name appeared on several bank accounts used in his wife's embezzlement scheme. At least three charities Mrs. Aponte worked with during the past two decades were included in the arrest warrant, the latest organization being Hyde Park Christian Church. Under the most recent filings, Louanne Aponte is accused of misappropriating funds of around $7,000 during the time she served as treasurer for the church's grants committee (between May 2006 and November 2009).
Investigators are currently tracking deposits -- more than $2 million worth -- into Aponte-controlled accounts over seven years. The arrest warrant claims that based on their salaries and account activity, the couple was living way beyond their means "and could not have done so without the misapplied funds."
While Mr. Aponte remains in custody, Louanne Aponte is thought to be in Venezuela, where her husband's family lives. This week's warrant requests that Mr. Aponte's passport be confiscated.