Virginia church secretary found guilty of embezzlement

Parish secretary found guilty of embezzlement. Debra Lee Epps, former secretary at Church Church, Smithfield, VA, pled guilty April 30 in Circuit Court to eight counts of embezzlement and one count each of forging and uttering checks. During the trial, Ms. Epps apologized to the congregation for embezzling more than $300,000, according to the Associated Press. Wayne Farmer, prosecutor for the Commonwealth of Virginia, told the court that Mrs. Epps took the money over a 10-year period beginning in 1998. He said Mrs. Epps told investigators she used the money to pay for school tuition, credit card bills, horseback riding lessons, and her family's annual trip to Florida. Mrs. Epps faces up to 180 years in prison when she returns to court for sentencing on July 7