The latest report about embezzlement of Catholic Church funds comes from Waterbury, Connecticut, where a parish pastor is now being investigated for the embezzlement of nearly $1 billion of parish funds. The parishioners say they are in shock. But their shock could have been avoided if a functional, independent parish finance council, as required by canon law, had been in place at Sacred Heart–Sagrado Corazon. Dioceses across the United States are mandated by canon law to implement such finance councils. Information about Canon Law 537 can be easily found on many parish websites as well the website of the United States Council of Catholic Bishops. But the Archdiocese of Hartford provides no such information and Sacred Heart–Sagrado Corazon Parish also failed to submit annual reports. The Archdiocese of Hartford has itself not published a public annual report since the 1980s.
Voice of the Faithful has long advocated for transparent appointment and reporting from parish finance councils, including in the Hartford archdiocese. “We met with then-Archbishop Daniel Cronin in 2002-2003 and identified the lack of finance councils as a problem,” says Jayne O’Donnell from West Hartford. “We even offered to help him establish finance councils and pastoral councils in the parishes but he refused. Now the parishioners in Waterbury face major problems. It could have all been avoided. Parishes in the diocese—and in others as well—should be surveyed and then monitored by the diocese to ensure they are in compliance with canon law and providing independent reports to their parishioners.”
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Former McLaughlin, South Dakota School business manager gets 2-1/2 years for embezzlement
A Sioux Falls man has been sentenced to 2 -1/2 years in federal prison for stealing more than $275,000 from the McLaughlin School District.
Jamie Lee Beisch, 34, reached a plea agreement in February in which he pleaded guilty to one count of theft from a public organization receiving federal funds. He was sentenced Monday in Aberdeen by U.S. District Court Judge Charles B. Kornmann.
Beisch, a former business manager for the McLaughlin School District, admitted stealing $277,368.51 in school funds between May 2007 and February 2009.
Beisch was also ordered to pay $284,771 in restitution to the school district, a figure that includes the embezzled funds and the school’s audit and travel expenses.
Also, a special assessment of $100 was imposed, and Beisch was ordered to serve a 3-year term of supervised release after he gets out of prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
Beisch must surrender to the U.S. Marshal or the designated Bureau of Prisons facility no later than July 7.
Jamie Lee Beisch, 34, reached a plea agreement in February in which he pleaded guilty to one count of theft from a public organization receiving federal funds. He was sentenced Monday in Aberdeen by U.S. District Court Judge Charles B. Kornmann.
Beisch, a former business manager for the McLaughlin School District, admitted stealing $277,368.51 in school funds between May 2007 and February 2009.
Beisch was also ordered to pay $284,771 in restitution to the school district, a figure that includes the embezzled funds and the school’s audit and travel expenses.
Also, a special assessment of $100 was imposed, and Beisch was ordered to serve a 3-year term of supervised release after he gets out of prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
Beisch must surrender to the U.S. Marshal or the designated Bureau of Prisons facility no later than July 7.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Joplin, Missouri woman accused of embezzling from church
The former director of a southwest Missouri day camp has been charged with embezzling church funds. Newton County authorities allege that 51-year-old Deborah L. Wills, of Joplin, embezzled more than $12,000 from Christ's Community United Methodist Church in Joplin between January 2007 and March of this year.
The Joplin Globe reports that a financial manager for the church discovered this year that $12,285 that had been posted in the church's accounting program had not been deposited in the church's bank account.
Wills was charged May 21. Her bond appearance is set for July 19.
The Joplin Globe reports that a financial manager for the church discovered this year that $12,285 that had been posted in the church's accounting program had not been deposited in the church's bank account.
Wills was charged May 21. Her bond appearance is set for July 19.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Cops: Bookkeeper stole 48K from church in Rhode Island
A North Providence man is facing serious charges after he allegedly embezzled tens of thousands of dollars from a local church.
Police arrested Edward Kincaid, 38, of North Providence Monday on three counts of felony embezzlement. Authorities said while serving as a bookkeeper at the Assembly of God Church on Lexington Avenue, he stole $48,000.
The church's pastor tells Eyewitness News that he is shocked and saddened by the news. Kincaid had worked at the church for 5 years, according to church officials.
Major Paul Martellini said he expects that additional charges will be filed. Kincaid faced a judge on Monday. He has been released on $10,000 personal recognizance.
Police are continuing to investigate.
Police arrested Edward Kincaid, 38, of North Providence Monday on three counts of felony embezzlement. Authorities said while serving as a bookkeeper at the Assembly of God Church on Lexington Avenue, he stole $48,000.
The church's pastor tells Eyewitness News that he is shocked and saddened by the news. Kincaid had worked at the church for 5 years, according to church officials.
Major Paul Martellini said he expects that additional charges will be filed. Kincaid faced a judge on Monday. He has been released on $10,000 personal recognizance.
Police are continuing to investigate.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Waterbury, Connecticut Priest Accused Of Taking $1 Million From Parish
A well-known Roman Catholic priest in Waterbury is accused of taking about $1 million from the Sacred Heart/Sagredo Corazon parish for his personal use over a seven-year period, depleting parish finances and sparking a criminal investigation.
Rev. Kevin J. Gray, 64, was placed on medical leave by Hartford Archbishop Henry J. Mansell on April 15 and has not been heard from since, said Rev. John P. Gatzak, director of communications for the Hartford Archdiocese. "We don't know where he is at this point,'' Gatzak said..
Many parishioners learned of the alleged theft for the first time at Saturday night Mass, and the collective reaction was anger, disbelief and sadness. Officials from the archdiocese plan to return to Sacred Heart today to discuss the matter with congregants after Sunday morning services.
"We take seriously the trust relationship we hold with our parish families,'' Gatzak said. "The erosion of trust is of greater concern than even the financial impact. Of course it is a huge sum of money, but the betrayal of trust is something we are very concerned about.''
Father Gray was a popular priest in Waterbury, having served in the city for 26 years, first at St. Margaret's and St. Cecilia's churches before arriving at Sacred Heart/Sagredo Corazon. "He was loved and respected by many,'' Gatzak said.
Gatzak would not say what Gray might have done with the money, though they believe he was acting alone. The priest had told people in the community he was gravely ill, Gatzak said.
"In recent years all of the archdiocese family, the parishioners of Sacred Heart/Sagredo Corazon, have been concerned about the health problems that Father Gray had reported he was experiencing …They were all very understanding and supportive in the midst of this apparent life-threatening illness … It is not certain that he has a life-threatening illness.''
Waterbury police could not be reached for comment Saturday night. But the archdiocese said it referred the matter to police on May 21 after it uncovered unauthorized payments of church funds during a routine review.
The archdiocese said it decided to go public with the matter this weekend because it was worried rumors would begin to develop. "We decided it was in the best interest of the parish family itself. They deserve to know the truth,'' Gatzak said. "We wanted to wait for the final results of the police investigation but felt it was it was best to speak with the parish now.''
The alleged theft began in January 2003, Gatzak said, but it only came to light during a recent review. The money was taken from parish savings accounts as well as funds earmarked for payment of debts, including insurance payments and the cathedraticum, an annual assessment paid by parishes to the archdiocese, he said.
The church requires each parish to have a parish financial council to work with the pastor on fiscal matters, but Sacred Heart/Sagredo Corazon did not have such a panel, Gatzak said. Pastors are also required to issue annual financial reports to the archdiocese, but Gray did not comply the archdiocese spokesman said. Both of those things helped trigger the financial review, which is done on a rotating basis at parishes throughout the archdiocese.
In 2009, the Connecticut legislature considered a bill that would have given greater oversight of parish finances to lay people within the church. Catholic leaders vigorously fought the measure, which was pulled before a public hearing was held.
Such a bill would have made no difference in this case, Gatzak said. "This was discovered not by the state, not by the police and not by parishioners,'' he said. "It was discovered by the archdiocese itself because of the controls it has in place. The archdiocese its certainly taking its fiduciary responsibilities very seriously.''
Still, Gatzak said the archdiocese will review its procedures to determine "how we can better improve what we do,'' he said.
In the meantime, the archdiocese will help Sacred Heart/Sagredo Corazon heal. It intends to help fund neglected repairs to the church building as well as working to rebuild parishioners faith.
"There are a lot of victims of this whole thing,'' Gatzak said. "We need to be an understanding and compassionate community of faith and let the police complete their report and seek justice but we can certainly pray for all of those involved, including Father Gray himself."
Rev. Kevin J. Gray, 64, was placed on medical leave by Hartford Archbishop Henry J. Mansell on April 15 and has not been heard from since, said Rev. John P. Gatzak, director of communications for the Hartford Archdiocese. "We don't know where he is at this point,'' Gatzak said..
Many parishioners learned of the alleged theft for the first time at Saturday night Mass, and the collective reaction was anger, disbelief and sadness. Officials from the archdiocese plan to return to Sacred Heart today to discuss the matter with congregants after Sunday morning services.
"We take seriously the trust relationship we hold with our parish families,'' Gatzak said. "The erosion of trust is of greater concern than even the financial impact. Of course it is a huge sum of money, but the betrayal of trust is something we are very concerned about.''
Father Gray was a popular priest in Waterbury, having served in the city for 26 years, first at St. Margaret's and St. Cecilia's churches before arriving at Sacred Heart/Sagredo Corazon. "He was loved and respected by many,'' Gatzak said.
Gatzak would not say what Gray might have done with the money, though they believe he was acting alone. The priest had told people in the community he was gravely ill, Gatzak said.
"In recent years all of the archdiocese family, the parishioners of Sacred Heart/Sagredo Corazon, have been concerned about the health problems that Father Gray had reported he was experiencing …They were all very understanding and supportive in the midst of this apparent life-threatening illness … It is not certain that he has a life-threatening illness.''
Waterbury police could not be reached for comment Saturday night. But the archdiocese said it referred the matter to police on May 21 after it uncovered unauthorized payments of church funds during a routine review.
The archdiocese said it decided to go public with the matter this weekend because it was worried rumors would begin to develop. "We decided it was in the best interest of the parish family itself. They deserve to know the truth,'' Gatzak said. "We wanted to wait for the final results of the police investigation but felt it was it was best to speak with the parish now.''
The alleged theft began in January 2003, Gatzak said, but it only came to light during a recent review. The money was taken from parish savings accounts as well as funds earmarked for payment of debts, including insurance payments and the cathedraticum, an annual assessment paid by parishes to the archdiocese, he said.
The church requires each parish to have a parish financial council to work with the pastor on fiscal matters, but Sacred Heart/Sagredo Corazon did not have such a panel, Gatzak said. Pastors are also required to issue annual financial reports to the archdiocese, but Gray did not comply the archdiocese spokesman said. Both of those things helped trigger the financial review, which is done on a rotating basis at parishes throughout the archdiocese.
In 2009, the Connecticut legislature considered a bill that would have given greater oversight of parish finances to lay people within the church. Catholic leaders vigorously fought the measure, which was pulled before a public hearing was held.
Such a bill would have made no difference in this case, Gatzak said. "This was discovered not by the state, not by the police and not by parishioners,'' he said. "It was discovered by the archdiocese itself because of the controls it has in place. The archdiocese its certainly taking its fiduciary responsibilities very seriously.''
Still, Gatzak said the archdiocese will review its procedures to determine "how we can better improve what we do,'' he said.
In the meantime, the archdiocese will help Sacred Heart/Sagredo Corazon heal. It intends to help fund neglected repairs to the church building as well as working to rebuild parishioners faith.
"There are a lot of victims of this whole thing,'' Gatzak said. "We need to be an understanding and compassionate community of faith and let the police complete their report and seek justice but we can certainly pray for all of those involved, including Father Gray himself."
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Florida State University Embezzlement scandal leads to management upheaval
Innovation Park is currently undergoing major management changes, after it was revealed that former bookkeeper and office manager Shanna Lewis had embezzled money from the park.
Authority Board Treasurer Bob Rackleff, newly appointed this past February, who is also chairman of the Leon County Board of Commissioners, attested that Lewis may have embezzled as much as half a million dollars in the last two years.
The park has an annual budget of $1.1 million, Rackleff said. Rackleff, like many, is at a loss to explain how the issue went undetected for so long.
“That’s the $64,000 question,” Rackleff said. “The only thing I can understand is everybody was just asleep at the switch […] In a word, it was complacency.”
Lewis developed a complex system for embezzling money. She deposited checks in her bank account at Florida Commerce Credit Union, which then sent the check to Wachovia—Innovation Park’s bank. Wachovia scanned the check and sent a bank statement with the scanned images.
“She would open up the bank statement and alter the images of the checks to be made out to various venders,” Rackleff said. “So you’d look at that and say, oh, here’s a $4,600 check to R&R Services, which had actually been a $4,600 check to Shanna Lewis.”
The only authority Lewis had to report to was the park’s Executive Director, Linda Nicholsen, who hired Lewis in November of 2001 without conducting a background check. Doing so would have revealed that, for the first four months Lewis was employed at Innovation Park, she was serving a six-month sentence for embezzling $180,000 from Herrell Roofing Company.
Authority board member Bill Hebrock, who represents the private sector on the board, said supervision over Lewis was absent, to the extent that “Ms. Nicholsen allowed the bookkeeper to take public financial records to her home, and Ms. Nicholsen did not maintain her own access and supervisory control over the bookkeeper’s in-office computer and financial records.”
Both board members had called for Nicholsen, who has been with the park since 1997, to step down from her position as executive director before she announced plans to retire in September, according to the Tallahassee Democrat. Nicholsen could not be reached for comment on this story.
On Lewis’ 2008 annual employee evaluation, found in public records, Nicholsen graded Lewis’ level of reliability and trustworthiness as “excellent,” writing, “Shanna keeps busy and is often pulled in many directions, but seldom needs supervision.”
Rackleff said that, because of the lack of leadership, Innovation Park has been performing far below potential. He called the park more of a “real estate operation” than a “research park operation,” and said the board has higher ambitions for Innovation Park.
“We have two factories out there, which are not research activities,” Rackleff said. “We’ve got some state offices out there that just barely count as research functions. Certainly, FSU and FAMU have written off Innovation Park.”
He said that the universities involved have had a diminishing interest in the park because of a perceived lack of vision for the park’s future.
It’s basically, ‘Let’s collect the rent and keep the grass mowed,’” Rackleff said.
Though he acknowledges that there are fascinating, important projects going on in the park, highlighting the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, he expressed regret that these projects have not been developed more fully.
“There should have been dozens of spinoffs from that; spinoff businesses and laboratories that have not materialized yet,” Rackleff said. “And that really gets back to the leadership of the Innovation Park administration.”
Hebrock said that an “Inter-local Agreement” has been approved by the Leon County Commission and by the Innovation Park Board on Tuesday, June 1 “to have the very capable and professional financial, administrative and legal staff of Leon County to temporarily handle and restore to accuracy of Innovation Park’s financial records, administrative procedures, personnel procedures and legal concerns.”
This step was intended to reduce the park’s administrative expenses, according to Rackleff.
This is a temporary move until Sept. 30, at which point the board expects to have an executive director and more ideas on a long-term strategy. A search committee is currently looking for an executive director with, according to Rackleff, an understanding of scientific research and university research-related projects.
Another step the board has taken to create a system of checks and balances is to appoint the treasurer as the only person who can open bank statements.
Rackleff also said that he had talked with President Ammons of Florida A&M University and several senior members of Florida State University to assure them that the park will be going in a new direction.
“We are determined to have a stronger partnership with them, as well as TCC, so we can all benefit from fully realizing the goals of this research park,” Rackleff said.
Authority Board Treasurer Bob Rackleff, newly appointed this past February, who is also chairman of the Leon County Board of Commissioners, attested that Lewis may have embezzled as much as half a million dollars in the last two years.
The park has an annual budget of $1.1 million, Rackleff said. Rackleff, like many, is at a loss to explain how the issue went undetected for so long.
“That’s the $64,000 question,” Rackleff said. “The only thing I can understand is everybody was just asleep at the switch […] In a word, it was complacency.”
Lewis developed a complex system for embezzling money. She deposited checks in her bank account at Florida Commerce Credit Union, which then sent the check to Wachovia—Innovation Park’s bank. Wachovia scanned the check and sent a bank statement with the scanned images.
“She would open up the bank statement and alter the images of the checks to be made out to various venders,” Rackleff said. “So you’d look at that and say, oh, here’s a $4,600 check to R&R Services, which had actually been a $4,600 check to Shanna Lewis.”
The only authority Lewis had to report to was the park’s Executive Director, Linda Nicholsen, who hired Lewis in November of 2001 without conducting a background check. Doing so would have revealed that, for the first four months Lewis was employed at Innovation Park, she was serving a six-month sentence for embezzling $180,000 from Herrell Roofing Company.
Authority board member Bill Hebrock, who represents the private sector on the board, said supervision over Lewis was absent, to the extent that “Ms. Nicholsen allowed the bookkeeper to take public financial records to her home, and Ms. Nicholsen did not maintain her own access and supervisory control over the bookkeeper’s in-office computer and financial records.”
Both board members had called for Nicholsen, who has been with the park since 1997, to step down from her position as executive director before she announced plans to retire in September, according to the Tallahassee Democrat. Nicholsen could not be reached for comment on this story.
On Lewis’ 2008 annual employee evaluation, found in public records, Nicholsen graded Lewis’ level of reliability and trustworthiness as “excellent,” writing, “Shanna keeps busy and is often pulled in many directions, but seldom needs supervision.”
Rackleff said that, because of the lack of leadership, Innovation Park has been performing far below potential. He called the park more of a “real estate operation” than a “research park operation,” and said the board has higher ambitions for Innovation Park.
“We have two factories out there, which are not research activities,” Rackleff said. “We’ve got some state offices out there that just barely count as research functions. Certainly, FSU and FAMU have written off Innovation Park.”
He said that the universities involved have had a diminishing interest in the park because of a perceived lack of vision for the park’s future.
It’s basically, ‘Let’s collect the rent and keep the grass mowed,’” Rackleff said.
Though he acknowledges that there are fascinating, important projects going on in the park, highlighting the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, he expressed regret that these projects have not been developed more fully.
“There should have been dozens of spinoffs from that; spinoff businesses and laboratories that have not materialized yet,” Rackleff said. “And that really gets back to the leadership of the Innovation Park administration.”
Hebrock said that an “Inter-local Agreement” has been approved by the Leon County Commission and by the Innovation Park Board on Tuesday, June 1 “to have the very capable and professional financial, administrative and legal staff of Leon County to temporarily handle and restore to accuracy of Innovation Park’s financial records, administrative procedures, personnel procedures and legal concerns.”
This step was intended to reduce the park’s administrative expenses, according to Rackleff.
This is a temporary move until Sept. 30, at which point the board expects to have an executive director and more ideas on a long-term strategy. A search committee is currently looking for an executive director with, according to Rackleff, an understanding of scientific research and university research-related projects.
Another step the board has taken to create a system of checks and balances is to appoint the treasurer as the only person who can open bank statements.
Rackleff also said that he had talked with President Ammons of Florida A&M University and several senior members of Florida State University to assure them that the park will be going in a new direction.
“We are determined to have a stronger partnership with them, as well as TCC, so we can all benefit from fully realizing the goals of this research park,” Rackleff said.
Friday, June 18, 2010
3 accused of embezzlement from parishes in Boston
Three people who counted collection money at two local Catholic churches who are charged with stealing from parish collections are currently awaiting their respective pre-trial conferences. Marjory O’Day, 58, of Braintree, and John Inferrere, 62, of Wayland, are scheduled for pre-trial conferences at Framingham District Court in late July, according to Maryanne Donnell, a clerk supervisor at the Framingham court. The two were arrested on June 7 by the Wayland Police Department for stealing from collections at St. Zepherin Parish in Wayland. They are charged with larceny and breaking and entering a depository.
Both are employees at the parish. O’Day is listed in the 2010 Boston Catholic Directory as the parish’s pastoral associate.
Although evidence at St. Zepherin’s indicates that O’Day and Inferrere were stealing from the same source, authorities believe the thefts were unrelated and the two were unaware of each other’s actions.
A similar situation recently occurred at a Tyngsboro parish.
Donna Rood, 47, of Tyngsboro, a former employee of St. Mary Magdalen Parish there, is scheduled for a pre-trial conference on June 30 at Middlesex Superior Court. She was recently arraigned June 11 on charges that she stole over $100,000 in cash from the church over several years.
“The parish and the archdiocese have been cooperating with local law enforcement throughout the investigation,” said Terry Donilon, a spokesman for the archdiocese. “The archdiocese, with its insurers, is continuing its review at the parish level to determine with more specificity the final amount that is suspected to have been stolen as well as recovery of collection funds.”
Theft allegations against Rood stem from May 2009. Bank records obtained by authorities revealed substantial deposits of cash income between 2005 and 2009 made just days after Masses.
“As sad and difficult as this matter has been for our parish, we pray for the former employee who is at the center of this investigation and facing serious legal consequences,” Donilon’s statement said.
Both are employees at the parish. O’Day is listed in the 2010 Boston Catholic Directory as the parish’s pastoral associate.
Although evidence at St. Zepherin’s indicates that O’Day and Inferrere were stealing from the same source, authorities believe the thefts were unrelated and the two were unaware of each other’s actions.
A similar situation recently occurred at a Tyngsboro parish.
Donna Rood, 47, of Tyngsboro, a former employee of St. Mary Magdalen Parish there, is scheduled for a pre-trial conference on June 30 at Middlesex Superior Court. She was recently arraigned June 11 on charges that she stole over $100,000 in cash from the church over several years.
“The parish and the archdiocese have been cooperating with local law enforcement throughout the investigation,” said Terry Donilon, a spokesman for the archdiocese. “The archdiocese, with its insurers, is continuing its review at the parish level to determine with more specificity the final amount that is suspected to have been stolen as well as recovery of collection funds.”
Theft allegations against Rood stem from May 2009. Bank records obtained by authorities revealed substantial deposits of cash income between 2005 and 2009 made just days after Masses.
“As sad and difficult as this matter has been for our parish, we pray for the former employee who is at the center of this investigation and facing serious legal consequences,” Donilon’s statement said.
Woman Arrested for Embezzling Church Organization in Phoenix
A Gilbert woman has been arrested for defrauding the religious organization for which she worked.
Back in April, Gilbert Police began investigating an embezzlement case at the Phoenix Catholic Diocese Women's Organization. Investigators found that between July 2008 and March 2010, 49-year-old Yvonne Miles embezzled $11,196 from PCDWO while holding a position as Treasurer.
Police say that Miles had access to the organization's bank account and was one of its signers. She allegedly wrote over 55 checks to herself, forging a second signature that was required for each check.
She then deposited the money into her personal checking account, police say.
Miles was arrested on Tuesday. She was booked into the 4th Ave Jail on theft by embezzlement and forgery charges.
Back in April, Gilbert Police began investigating an embezzlement case at the Phoenix Catholic Diocese Women's Organization. Investigators found that between July 2008 and March 2010, 49-year-old Yvonne Miles embezzled $11,196 from PCDWO while holding a position as Treasurer.
Police say that Miles had access to the organization's bank account and was one of its signers. She allegedly wrote over 55 checks to herself, forging a second signature that was required for each check.
She then deposited the money into her personal checking account, police say.
Miles was arrested on Tuesday. She was booked into the 4th Ave Jail on theft by embezzlement and forgery charges.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Accused arsonist fit for trial in Ottawa, Illinois
Following a review of a psychological evaluation, Circuit Judge H. Chris Ryan Jr. Friday found an Ottawa woman charged with arson and theft fit to stand trial next month.
Terri L. James, who remains in La Salle County Jail under $200,000 bond, is now scheduled to face a jury Monday, July 12. She pleaded not guilty to the charges.
According to authorities, the alleged arson fires were connected to the 42-year-old woman's unauthorized use of a credit card from First Congregational United Church of Christ in Ottawa to charge "in excess of $100,000." County prosecutors have reported James paid "said credit card statements with funds" from the church.
The complaint also accuses James of altering church records to conceal the alleged embezzlement. She has been church administrative assistant for several years handling the church's financial affairs.
James is suspected of starting a fire that nearly destroyed an Ottawa South Side home and attempting to set fire to another structure as a diversion on the city's West Side on the morning of March 17. She was arrested and charged with arson and attempted arson after alert neighbors told police details about a similar-looking van seen at both locations before the fires were discovered.
The wife of former State's Attorney Michael James and mother of three is facing an aggregated prison term of up to 45 years.
Represented by Public Defender Tim Cappellini, James was examined by Dr. Robert Chapman, a forensic psychiatrist from Bloomington, to evaluate her mental status.
Terri L. James, who remains in La Salle County Jail under $200,000 bond, is now scheduled to face a jury Monday, July 12. She pleaded not guilty to the charges.
According to authorities, the alleged arson fires were connected to the 42-year-old woman's unauthorized use of a credit card from First Congregational United Church of Christ in Ottawa to charge "in excess of $100,000." County prosecutors have reported James paid "said credit card statements with funds" from the church.
The complaint also accuses James of altering church records to conceal the alleged embezzlement. She has been church administrative assistant for several years handling the church's financial affairs.
James is suspected of starting a fire that nearly destroyed an Ottawa South Side home and attempting to set fire to another structure as a diversion on the city's West Side on the morning of March 17. She was arrested and charged with arson and attempted arson after alert neighbors told police details about a similar-looking van seen at both locations before the fires were discovered.
The wife of former State's Attorney Michael James and mother of three is facing an aggregated prison term of up to 45 years.
Represented by Public Defender Tim Cappellini, James was examined by Dr. Robert Chapman, a forensic psychiatrist from Bloomington, to evaluate her mental status.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Virginia Woman to serve 2 years for embezzlement
A former employee of the Pulaski County commissioner of the revenue's office will spend two years in prison for taking money from her church over a four-year period, a judge ruled Wednesday.
Patricia Wilson, 58, of Draper was charged with nine counts of embezzlement dating from 2006 to last year. At a hearing in December in Pulaski County Circuit Court, she pleaded guilty to five counts; the four others were dropped.
Wilson took a total of $167,030.75, Pulaski County Commonwealth's Attorney Mike Fleenor said. He said $20,000 has been repaid.
At the conclusion of a hearing that lasted about three hours Wednesday, Circuit Court Judge Bobby Turk sentenced Wilson to two years in prison on each conviction for a total of 10 years with eight years suspended. After she serves two years in prison, Wilson will spend five years on probation.
Wilson testified that she took the money to help her daughter, Fleenor said. He said she wrote about 100 checks from the church's account.
An investigation began after the electricity at Memorial Christian Church in Draper was turned off in March 2009. When approached by church members, Wilson, who had been in charge of church funds for nine years, admitted that she took money without authorization.
After she was charged, she resigned from her job as deputy commissioner.
The sheriff's office has said an investigation has shown that no funds were taken from the commissioner of the revenue's office.
Patricia Wilson, 58, of Draper was charged with nine counts of embezzlement dating from 2006 to last year. At a hearing in December in Pulaski County Circuit Court, she pleaded guilty to five counts; the four others were dropped.
Wilson took a total of $167,030.75, Pulaski County Commonwealth's Attorney Mike Fleenor said. He said $20,000 has been repaid.
At the conclusion of a hearing that lasted about three hours Wednesday, Circuit Court Judge Bobby Turk sentenced Wilson to two years in prison on each conviction for a total of 10 years with eight years suspended. After she serves two years in prison, Wilson will spend five years on probation.
Wilson testified that she took the money to help her daughter, Fleenor said. He said she wrote about 100 checks from the church's account.
An investigation began after the electricity at Memorial Christian Church in Draper was turned off in March 2009. When approached by church members, Wilson, who had been in charge of church funds for nine years, admitted that she took money without authorization.
After she was charged, she resigned from her job as deputy commissioner.
The sheriff's office has said an investigation has shown that no funds were taken from the commissioner of the revenue's office.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Accused embezzler now charged with ripping off church in Kansas
A criminal charge against a woman in September got her employers thinking they might want to double-check their own bank account — a search that revealed they, too, were missing money.
Rachel Brooke McDonald, 34, was charged with a second count of theft in connection with $23,659 that turned up missing from the First United Methodist Church at 909 Tenth St. Her bond was set at $150,000 and she was being held in the Wichita County Jail Friday.
The charge came about after an investigation last year led to McDonald’s arrest on charges of taking more than $130,000 from YTO-USA when she was employed there as a bookkeeper, said Detective Chris Gay.
YTO-USA is a distribution center that operated out of a portion of the former Delphi plant on Interstate 44.
According to an arrest warrant affidavit:
A representative for the church alerted police on Jan. 15, that money was missing from the church. He said between July 13, 2009, and Aug. 31, 2009, a woman working as a business administrator may have fraudulently taken money.
The representative said McDonald wrote nine checks to herself for a total of about $17,000, took cash deposits, made one bank draft for about $350 to pay an AT&T phone bill and used a church-issued credit card for purchases totaling about $3,300.
“Neither the checks nor the credit card charges were authorized by the church,” the affidavit states.
McDonald was arrested Thursday by the detective who investigated the case, Officer Cory Whited.
In McDonald’s first case, the alleged thefts occurred between May 2008 and June 2009. An October 2009 Matter of Record listing in the Times Record News shows McDonald’s residence was foreclosed on and lists an amount of $204,900.
Talking in general about embezzlement-type crimes, Gay said it is not unusual for there to be repeat offenders with this type of crime. “This is typical. A lot of times, if the offender hasn’t learned their lesson or faced any consequences for it, they will continue. It’s habitual. It’s mental.”
He noted the case in which a woman stole from the Wichita Falls Wildcats hockey team. It was her third theft charge.
These aren’t people who are using the money to make ends meet, to keep the lights on or the water running. They are doing it to fuel a habit or a lifestyle that is beyond their means,” Gay said.
To avoid becoming a victim of this kind, Gay said there are a couple of steps employers can take. One of the most important steps is getting a background check or contacting a law enforcement agency.
“A lot of these employers won’t check,” he said, “and (criminals) may not put it on the application.”
Another step that can help avoid embezzlement is to maintain a system of checks and balances over the finances.
“They need to have more than one or two people keeping an eye on the money,” he said. Even requiring two signatures does not deter all thieves. “If they are going to forge one, what makes you think they are not going to forge two.”
Rachel Brooke McDonald, 34, was charged with a second count of theft in connection with $23,659 that turned up missing from the First United Methodist Church at 909 Tenth St. Her bond was set at $150,000 and she was being held in the Wichita County Jail Friday.
The charge came about after an investigation last year led to McDonald’s arrest on charges of taking more than $130,000 from YTO-USA when she was employed there as a bookkeeper, said Detective Chris Gay.
YTO-USA is a distribution center that operated out of a portion of the former Delphi plant on Interstate 44.
According to an arrest warrant affidavit:
A representative for the church alerted police on Jan. 15, that money was missing from the church. He said between July 13, 2009, and Aug. 31, 2009, a woman working as a business administrator may have fraudulently taken money.
The representative said McDonald wrote nine checks to herself for a total of about $17,000, took cash deposits, made one bank draft for about $350 to pay an AT&T phone bill and used a church-issued credit card for purchases totaling about $3,300.
“Neither the checks nor the credit card charges were authorized by the church,” the affidavit states.
McDonald was arrested Thursday by the detective who investigated the case, Officer Cory Whited.
In McDonald’s first case, the alleged thefts occurred between May 2008 and June 2009. An October 2009 Matter of Record listing in the Times Record News shows McDonald’s residence was foreclosed on and lists an amount of $204,900.
Talking in general about embezzlement-type crimes, Gay said it is not unusual for there to be repeat offenders with this type of crime. “This is typical. A lot of times, if the offender hasn’t learned their lesson or faced any consequences for it, they will continue. It’s habitual. It’s mental.”
He noted the case in which a woman stole from the Wichita Falls Wildcats hockey team. It was her third theft charge.
These aren’t people who are using the money to make ends meet, to keep the lights on or the water running. They are doing it to fuel a habit or a lifestyle that is beyond their means,” Gay said.
To avoid becoming a victim of this kind, Gay said there are a couple of steps employers can take. One of the most important steps is getting a background check or contacting a law enforcement agency.
“A lot of these employers won’t check,” he said, “and (criminals) may not put it on the application.”
Another step that can help avoid embezzlement is to maintain a system of checks and balances over the finances.
“They need to have more than one or two people keeping an eye on the money,” he said. Even requiring two signatures does not deter all thieves. “If they are going to forge one, what makes you think they are not going to forge two.”
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Accused of taking over $55,000 from Oklahoma church
A former secretary and treasurer of a Chouteau Church was charged with embezzlement Thursday in Mayes County District Court.
Sandy Sullivan, who was relieved from her duties in March, is accused of “fraudulently” appropriating $55,229.96 for her own use while serving as treasurer of the Chouteau United Methodist Church.
A spokesman for the Mayes County district attorney’s office said Sullivan will make her appearance in court next week after her attorney, Ben Sherrer, can schedule the date.
Lynn Hershberger, Chouteau police officer, said an investigation was conducted earlier in May after the department received a complaint from the Rev. Alan McIntyre, pastor, who said the church was missing some money.
“We began reviewing bank statements with the pastor and the church’s accountant. There’s obviously been some deception in the bookkeeping. The money wasn’t handled appropriately,” Hershberger said. Hershberger said Sullivan was employed by the church in 2001 and the records which reflect the church’s financial activities were not all available.
Hershberger and Chouteau Police Chief Gary Shrum met with the Mayes County District Attorney’s investigator and the documents were turned over to the District Attorney’s office.
McIntyre or Sullivan could not be reached for comment Friday.
Sherrer did say Sullivan’s initial court appearance is scheduled Wednesday.
Sandy Sullivan, who was relieved from her duties in March, is accused of “fraudulently” appropriating $55,229.96 for her own use while serving as treasurer of the Chouteau United Methodist Church.
A spokesman for the Mayes County district attorney’s office said Sullivan will make her appearance in court next week after her attorney, Ben Sherrer, can schedule the date.
Lynn Hershberger, Chouteau police officer, said an investigation was conducted earlier in May after the department received a complaint from the Rev. Alan McIntyre, pastor, who said the church was missing some money.
“We began reviewing bank statements with the pastor and the church’s accountant. There’s obviously been some deception in the bookkeeping. The money wasn’t handled appropriately,” Hershberger said. Hershberger said Sullivan was employed by the church in 2001 and the records which reflect the church’s financial activities were not all available.
Hershberger and Chouteau Police Chief Gary Shrum met with the Mayes County District Attorney’s investigator and the documents were turned over to the District Attorney’s office.
McIntyre or Sullivan could not be reached for comment Friday.
Sherrer did say Sullivan’s initial court appearance is scheduled Wednesday.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Outreach rebounds after $75,000 theft in Georgia
Diagnosed with bipolar disorder and depression, Cathy was unsatisfied with the high-priced, traditional counseling she was receiving. With her daughter’s wedding on the horizon, stresses mounted and worries accrued.
At the advice of her psychiatrist, Cathy, as she wished to be called, turned to a lesser-known and cheaper alternative, Covenant Counseling and Family Resource Center, headquartered in a split-level, brick home in a Snellville neighborhood off U.S. Highway 78.
At Covenant, the 49-year-old Lawrenceville mother said she was embraced by an expert staff willing to accept payments on a sliding scale, a rarity in the Gwinnett area, she said.
“If it wasn’t for their services, I really doubt I’d be able to afford the counseling that I need,” she said. “I’ve had some really, really good successes there.”
That sentiment echoes among patrons of an agency that, leaders say, was in need of some counseling itself (albeit the financial kind) a few months ago.
Covenant is putting the finishing touches on a rebound phase, recovering both financially and emotionally after a former bookkeeper allegedly bilked the agency of $75,000, roughly the equivalent of two counselors’ salaries. The money, stolen from customer payments and other funds over two years beginning in January 2007, was a substantial chunk of the nonprofit’s $175,000 operating budget, leaders said.
Fallout from the theft was widespread. It required Covenant employees to buy their own business cards and office supplies. Plans for a children’s therapy room were stalled. The IRS eventually settled on fining the agency a lenient $10,000 for delinquent tax paperwork — a relief considering Covenant’s 501(c)3 status, which allows federal tax exemptions for nonprofits, was in jeopardy in the wake of the alleged embezzlement, in addition to much heftier fines.
“Sometimes I think about how many people we could have helped if we had that money,” said the Rev. Jaye Peabody, the center’s executive director. “When someone you trust steals from you, it hurts. It’s a betrayal.”
Sheila Kitchens, the former bookkeeper, is charged with 10 felony counts of theft by taking, though that tally could rise significantly when the case goes before a grand jury, authorities have said. Hired in 2000 and fired last September for work-performance issues, Kitchens was arrested in April after an internal audit uncovered the string of thefts, police said. She’s since posted $100,000 bond.
Investigators said Kitchens confessed to bilking Covenant and spending nearly all the money on personal expenses.
Despite the setback, Peabody said the agency has operated in the black every month this year. But as a sour economy has led more folks through her doors with marital stress issues, mental health problems and other dilemmas, more financial stability is needed, she said.
Covenant hopes to raise at least $5,000 through two fundraisers, including a partnership with a local Stevi B’s Pizza restaurant Monday, that should galvanize most services this year. The center serves more than 500 individuals and families throughout metro Atlanta at the Snellville headquarters and satellite offices.
The spirit around the Scenic Drive office — decorated warm and homey as a grandmother’s living room — is one of rejuvenation, employees say.
“We have sighs of relief and celebration,” said assistant staff therapist Sharai Bradshaw.
Elijah Collins, pastor of Snellville’s Jerusalem Baptist Church, routinely sends congregation members to Covenant, especially when the church is beleaguered with requests. He calls their services unique.
“Oftentimes, as a pastor, we can’t sit down and counsel with everyone,” Collins said. “Covenant has been an extra arm, so to speak. They’re there to help, and they don’t mind doing so.”
Another client, a Snellville nurse named Camille, said the sighs of relief aren’t limited to the staff.
“I’m always taking care of others. With (Covenant), it allows me to make things better for myself,” she said. “I don’t know what I’d do without them.”
At the advice of her psychiatrist, Cathy, as she wished to be called, turned to a lesser-known and cheaper alternative, Covenant Counseling and Family Resource Center, headquartered in a split-level, brick home in a Snellville neighborhood off U.S. Highway 78.
At Covenant, the 49-year-old Lawrenceville mother said she was embraced by an expert staff willing to accept payments on a sliding scale, a rarity in the Gwinnett area, she said.
“If it wasn’t for their services, I really doubt I’d be able to afford the counseling that I need,” she said. “I’ve had some really, really good successes there.”
That sentiment echoes among patrons of an agency that, leaders say, was in need of some counseling itself (albeit the financial kind) a few months ago.
Covenant is putting the finishing touches on a rebound phase, recovering both financially and emotionally after a former bookkeeper allegedly bilked the agency of $75,000, roughly the equivalent of two counselors’ salaries. The money, stolen from customer payments and other funds over two years beginning in January 2007, was a substantial chunk of the nonprofit’s $175,000 operating budget, leaders said.
Fallout from the theft was widespread. It required Covenant employees to buy their own business cards and office supplies. Plans for a children’s therapy room were stalled. The IRS eventually settled on fining the agency a lenient $10,000 for delinquent tax paperwork — a relief considering Covenant’s 501(c)3 status, which allows federal tax exemptions for nonprofits, was in jeopardy in the wake of the alleged embezzlement, in addition to much heftier fines.
“Sometimes I think about how many people we could have helped if we had that money,” said the Rev. Jaye Peabody, the center’s executive director. “When someone you trust steals from you, it hurts. It’s a betrayal.”
Sheila Kitchens, the former bookkeeper, is charged with 10 felony counts of theft by taking, though that tally could rise significantly when the case goes before a grand jury, authorities have said. Hired in 2000 and fired last September for work-performance issues, Kitchens was arrested in April after an internal audit uncovered the string of thefts, police said. She’s since posted $100,000 bond.
Investigators said Kitchens confessed to bilking Covenant and spending nearly all the money on personal expenses.
Despite the setback, Peabody said the agency has operated in the black every month this year. But as a sour economy has led more folks through her doors with marital stress issues, mental health problems and other dilemmas, more financial stability is needed, she said.
Covenant hopes to raise at least $5,000 through two fundraisers, including a partnership with a local Stevi B’s Pizza restaurant Monday, that should galvanize most services this year. The center serves more than 500 individuals and families throughout metro Atlanta at the Snellville headquarters and satellite offices.
The spirit around the Scenic Drive office — decorated warm and homey as a grandmother’s living room — is one of rejuvenation, employees say.
“We have sighs of relief and celebration,” said assistant staff therapist Sharai Bradshaw.
Elijah Collins, pastor of Snellville’s Jerusalem Baptist Church, routinely sends congregation members to Covenant, especially when the church is beleaguered with requests. He calls their services unique.
“Oftentimes, as a pastor, we can’t sit down and counsel with everyone,” Collins said. “Covenant has been an extra arm, so to speak. They’re there to help, and they don’t mind doing so.”
Another client, a Snellville nurse named Camille, said the sighs of relief aren’t limited to the staff.
“I’m always taking care of others. With (Covenant), it allows me to make things better for myself,” she said. “I don’t know what I’d do without them.”
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Texas Woman charged in theft at church
A criminal charge against a woman in September got her employers thinking they might want to double-check their own bank account — a search that revealed they, too, were missing money.
Rachel Brooke McDonald, 34, was charged with a second count of theft in connection with $23,659 that turned up missing from the First United Methodist Church at 909 Tenth St. Her bond was set at $150,000 and she was being held in the Wichita County Jail Friday.
The charge came about after an investigation last year led to McDonald’s arrest on charges of taking more than $130,000 from YTO-USA when she was employed there as a bookkeeper, said Detective Chris Gay.
YTO-USA is a distribution center that operated out of a portion of the former Delphi plant on Interstate 44.
According to an arrest warrant affidavit:
A representative for the church alerted police on Jan. 15, that money was missing from the church. He said between July 13, 2009, and Aug. 31, 2009, a woman working as a business administrator may have fraudulently taken money.
The representative said McDonald wrote nine checks to herself for a total of about $17,000, took cash deposits, made one bank draft for about $350 to pay an AT&T phone bill and used a church-issued credit card for purchases totaling about $3,300.
“Neither the checks nor the credit card charges were authorized by the church,” the affidavit states.
McDonald was arrested Thursday by the detective who investigated the case, Officer Cory Whited.
In McDonald’s first case, the alleged thefts occurred between May 2008 and June 2009. An October 2009 Matter of Record listing in the Times Record News shows McDonald’s residence was foreclosed on and lists an amount of $204,900.
Talking in general about embezzlement-type crimes, Gay said it is not unusual for there to be repeat offenders with this type of crime. “This is typical. A lot of times, if the offender hasn’t learned their lesson or faced any consequences for it, they will continue. It’s habitual. It’s mental.”
He noted the case in which a woman stole from the Wichita Falls Wildcats hockey team. It was her third theft charge.
“These aren’t people who are using the money to make ends meet, to keep the lights on or the water running. They are doing it to fuel a habit or a lifestyle that is beyond their means,” Gay said.
To avoid becoming a victim of this kind, Gay said there are a couple of steps employers can take. One of the most important steps is getting a background check or contacting a law enforcement agency.
“A lot of these employers won’t check,” he said, “and (criminals) may not put it on the application.”
Another step that can help avoid embezzlement is to maintain a system of checks and balances over the finances.
“They need to have more than one or two people keeping an eye on the money,” he said. Even requiring two signatures does not deter all thieves. “If they are going to forge one, what makes you think they are not going to forge two.”
Rachel Brooke McDonald, 34, was charged with a second count of theft in connection with $23,659 that turned up missing from the First United Methodist Church at 909 Tenth St. Her bond was set at $150,000 and she was being held in the Wichita County Jail Friday.
The charge came about after an investigation last year led to McDonald’s arrest on charges of taking more than $130,000 from YTO-USA when she was employed there as a bookkeeper, said Detective Chris Gay.
YTO-USA is a distribution center that operated out of a portion of the former Delphi plant on Interstate 44.
According to an arrest warrant affidavit:
A representative for the church alerted police on Jan. 15, that money was missing from the church. He said between July 13, 2009, and Aug. 31, 2009, a woman working as a business administrator may have fraudulently taken money.
The representative said McDonald wrote nine checks to herself for a total of about $17,000, took cash deposits, made one bank draft for about $350 to pay an AT&T phone bill and used a church-issued credit card for purchases totaling about $3,300.
“Neither the checks nor the credit card charges were authorized by the church,” the affidavit states.
McDonald was arrested Thursday by the detective who investigated the case, Officer Cory Whited.
In McDonald’s first case, the alleged thefts occurred between May 2008 and June 2009. An October 2009 Matter of Record listing in the Times Record News shows McDonald’s residence was foreclosed on and lists an amount of $204,900.
Talking in general about embezzlement-type crimes, Gay said it is not unusual for there to be repeat offenders with this type of crime. “This is typical. A lot of times, if the offender hasn’t learned their lesson or faced any consequences for it, they will continue. It’s habitual. It’s mental.”
He noted the case in which a woman stole from the Wichita Falls Wildcats hockey team. It was her third theft charge.
“These aren’t people who are using the money to make ends meet, to keep the lights on or the water running. They are doing it to fuel a habit or a lifestyle that is beyond their means,” Gay said.
To avoid becoming a victim of this kind, Gay said there are a couple of steps employers can take. One of the most important steps is getting a background check or contacting a law enforcement agency.
“A lot of these employers won’t check,” he said, “and (criminals) may not put it on the application.”
Another step that can help avoid embezzlement is to maintain a system of checks and balances over the finances.
“They need to have more than one or two people keeping an eye on the money,” he said. Even requiring two signatures does not deter all thieves. “If they are going to forge one, what makes you think they are not going to forge two.”
Thursday, June 3, 2010
New York Nursery School Director Stole $40K from Church
The former director of a Levittown nursery school was arrested Wednesday for allegedly stealing more than $41,000 from the church that runs the school and using the cash to pay for trips, property taxes and credit card bills, Nassau County prosecutors said.
Gail Vokoun, 58, of East Meadow, was charged with grand larceny and falsifying business records. She is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday at First District Court in Hempstead.
Between August 2007 and September 2009, Vokoun, who was the director of the First Presbyterian Church of Levittown’s nursery school for 15 years, stole $41,489 from the school through unauthorized credit card purchases and by writing checks to herself from the school’s bank account, prosecutors said.
The theft was suspected by a member of the church’s clergy, who confronted Vokoun. She allegedly admitted to stealing $20,000, but an independent audit and investigation alleged that she stole more than twice that amount, prosecutors said.
Vokoun used the money to pay her property taxes, cable and phone bills, car insurance, dinners, hotel reservations and trips to the florist, prosecutors said. She resigned in September 2009.
Gail Vokoun, 58, of East Meadow, was charged with grand larceny and falsifying business records. She is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday at First District Court in Hempstead.
Between August 2007 and September 2009, Vokoun, who was the director of the First Presbyterian Church of Levittown’s nursery school for 15 years, stole $41,489 from the school through unauthorized credit card purchases and by writing checks to herself from the school’s bank account, prosecutors said.
The theft was suspected by a member of the church’s clergy, who confronted Vokoun. She allegedly admitted to stealing $20,000, but an independent audit and investigation alleged that she stole more than twice that amount, prosecutors said.
Vokoun used the money to pay her property taxes, cable and phone bills, car insurance, dinners, hotel reservations and trips to the florist, prosecutors said. She resigned in September 2009.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Ex-Tyngsboro, Massachusetts church worker indicted on embezzlement charges
A former Tyngsboro church employee has been indicted for allegedly skimming well over $100,000 from the cash donations made by the parishioners at Sunday Masses, including donations made to the poor, at St. Mary Magdalen Parish.
Donna Rood, 47, of Tyngsboro, has been indicted on charges of larceny by embezzlement over $250 and making false entries in corporate books.
"This defendant is alleged to have violated the trust and faith bestowed upon her as an employee of this church by stealing the monetary donations that were intended for the needs of her church and community," Middlesex District Attorney Gerard Leone said in a statement. "We allege that the defendant sadly abused this trust stealing well over $100,000 from charitable collection baskets during her time of employment."
According to authorities, Rood had access to the cash and books at the Tyngsboro church from 2003 until June of 2009. One of her responsibilities in the parish was to count charitable donations made by the parishioners during the three Sunday Masses. Donations were made in both check and cash, and included donations to the building fund, which served to maintain the church grounds; the "candle money," which was collected from individuals making votive offerings;and donations to the Society of St. Vincent DePaul, a Catholic charity committed to helping the poor.
Rood was also responsible for making entries in ledgers and tally sheets which were
maintained by the parish to keep track of the donations received.
The parish priest noticed there was a problem on May 31, 2009, when he personally and privately counted the candle collection and parish offertory collection, and found it totalled $127. When Rood counted the same money the next day, she made a written report that the total was only $97.There was no explanation for the missing money.
The following week, the parish priest and other parishioners conducted their own private count of the donated funds prior to Rood submitting her figures. Rood's figures, submitted in written form, reflected substantially lower amounts, and several large bills that had been specifically noted by the priest had gone missing. In early June 2009, the parish priest confronted Rood about the discrepancies in her counting. She was fired.
In the weeks after Rood's termination, the parish saw a dramatic increase in recorded cash donations, including numerous large bills. In prior years, counters rarely saw any large bills among the donations. An analysis of church receipts over time showed that there had been previous surges in donations during weeks that Rood was on vacation and unavailable to participate in counting the donations.
When investigators researched Rood's bank records they allegedly discovered a striking pattern of cash deposits, as much as $1,500 at a time immediately following Sunday services. The investigation revealed that Rood had no visible source of legitimate cash income. She was paid for her church duties exclusively by check.
Records revealed Rood deposited more than $17,000 in cash in 2005; more than $19,000 in cash in 2006; more than $35,000 in cash in each of the years 2007 and 2008; and had already deposited over $21,000 in cash in the year 2009 when she was fired in early June.
The bank records also revealed a dramatic decline in Rood's pattern of cash deposits immediately after she lost her job with the church. After making consistent, weekly deposits of large volumes of cash each of the first twenty-two weeks of 2009, her cash deposits abruptly ceased after she was fired.
No date has been set for Rood's arraignment.
A former employee of St. Mary Magdalen Parish in Tyngsboro accused of skimming well over $100,000 from Sunday Mass collections, including donations to the poor, may be seeking a state-paid defense attorney.
Donna Rood, 47, of Tyngsboro, pleaded innocent in Middlesex Superior Court
yesterday to charges of embezzlement over $250 and making false entries into corporate books.
Clerk-Magistrate Matthew Day released Rood on personal recognizance and ordered her to relinquish her passport and sign a waiver of rendition in case she should leave the state.
Rood came to court without an attorney yesterday. Defense attorney Jeanne Earley, the duty attorney who represented Rood during her arraignment, said it is unclear if she will qualify for a court-appointed lawyer.
Donna Rood, facing front, with attorney Jeanne Earley, pleads innocent to embezzling more than $100,000 from church collections at St. Mary Magdalen Parish yesterday in Middlesex Superior Court.
When contacted by The Sun, Earley declined to comment further on Rood's behalf at this time.
Meanwhile, the church pastor who initially discovered the discrepancies in the books that led to the case against Rood, the Rev. Ron St. Pierre, told The Sun last night he was praying for her.
"It's a very sad situation and she needs to be in our prayers," said St. Pierre. "She is somebody in whom we all placed our trust and we're all very saddened by this."
A message left on her answering machine last night was not returned. No one answered the door when a Sun reporter knocked on her door last night.
According to authorities, Rood had access to the cash and books at the Tyngsboro church from 2003 until June of 2009. Her responsibilities included counting the charitable donations during the three Sunday Masses.
But St. Pierre became suspicious that something was amiss in May 2009 after he counted the day's offering and found there was $127. The next day Rood, a six-year church employee, claimed there was only $97.
The next week, St. Pierre and other parishioners did their own private count of the donations prior to Rood submitting her figures. Rood's figures, submitted in written form, were smaller and several large bills that had been specifically noted by St. Pierre had gone missing.
In early June 2009, after St. Pierre confronted Rood about the discrepancies in her counting, she was fired.
When investigators reviewed Rood's personal bank records they allegedly discovered a striking pattern of cash deposits, as much as $1,500 at a time, immediately after Sunday services. Rood allegedly could not explain the missing cash. She was paid for her church duties exclusively by check.
Records revealed Rood deposited more than $17,000 in cash in 2005; more than $19,000 in cash in 2006; more than $35,000 in cash in each of the years 2007 and 2008; and had already deposited more than $21,000 in cash in the year 2009 when she was fired in early June.
Her next court date is June 30.
Donna Rood, 47, of Tyngsboro, has been indicted on charges of larceny by embezzlement over $250 and making false entries in corporate books.
"This defendant is alleged to have violated the trust and faith bestowed upon her as an employee of this church by stealing the monetary donations that were intended for the needs of her church and community," Middlesex District Attorney Gerard Leone said in a statement. "We allege that the defendant sadly abused this trust stealing well over $100,000 from charitable collection baskets during her time of employment."
According to authorities, Rood had access to the cash and books at the Tyngsboro church from 2003 until June of 2009. One of her responsibilities in the parish was to count charitable donations made by the parishioners during the three Sunday Masses. Donations were made in both check and cash, and included donations to the building fund, which served to maintain the church grounds; the "candle money," which was collected from individuals making votive offerings;and donations to the Society of St. Vincent DePaul, a Catholic charity committed to helping the poor.
Rood was also responsible for making entries in ledgers and tally sheets which were
maintained by the parish to keep track of the donations received.
The parish priest noticed there was a problem on May 31, 2009, when he personally and privately counted the candle collection and parish offertory collection, and found it totalled $127. When Rood counted the same money the next day, she made a written report that the total was only $97.There was no explanation for the missing money.
The following week, the parish priest and other parishioners conducted their own private count of the donated funds prior to Rood submitting her figures. Rood's figures, submitted in written form, reflected substantially lower amounts, and several large bills that had been specifically noted by the priest had gone missing. In early June 2009, the parish priest confronted Rood about the discrepancies in her counting. She was fired.
In the weeks after Rood's termination, the parish saw a dramatic increase in recorded cash donations, including numerous large bills. In prior years, counters rarely saw any large bills among the donations. An analysis of church receipts over time showed that there had been previous surges in donations during weeks that Rood was on vacation and unavailable to participate in counting the donations.
When investigators researched Rood's bank records they allegedly discovered a striking pattern of cash deposits, as much as $1,500 at a time immediately following Sunday services. The investigation revealed that Rood had no visible source of legitimate cash income. She was paid for her church duties exclusively by check.
Records revealed Rood deposited more than $17,000 in cash in 2005; more than $19,000 in cash in 2006; more than $35,000 in cash in each of the years 2007 and 2008; and had already deposited over $21,000 in cash in the year 2009 when she was fired in early June.
The bank records also revealed a dramatic decline in Rood's pattern of cash deposits immediately after she lost her job with the church. After making consistent, weekly deposits of large volumes of cash each of the first twenty-two weeks of 2009, her cash deposits abruptly ceased after she was fired.
No date has been set for Rood's arraignment.
A former employee of St. Mary Magdalen Parish in Tyngsboro accused of skimming well over $100,000 from Sunday Mass collections, including donations to the poor, may be seeking a state-paid defense attorney.
Donna Rood, 47, of Tyngsboro, pleaded innocent in Middlesex Superior Court
yesterday to charges of embezzlement over $250 and making false entries into corporate books.
Clerk-Magistrate Matthew Day released Rood on personal recognizance and ordered her to relinquish her passport and sign a waiver of rendition in case she should leave the state.
Rood came to court without an attorney yesterday. Defense attorney Jeanne Earley, the duty attorney who represented Rood during her arraignment, said it is unclear if she will qualify for a court-appointed lawyer.
Donna Rood, facing front, with attorney Jeanne Earley, pleads innocent to embezzling more than $100,000 from church collections at St. Mary Magdalen Parish yesterday in Middlesex Superior Court.
When contacted by The Sun, Earley declined to comment further on Rood's behalf at this time.
Meanwhile, the church pastor who initially discovered the discrepancies in the books that led to the case against Rood, the Rev. Ron St. Pierre, told The Sun last night he was praying for her.
"It's a very sad situation and she needs to be in our prayers," said St. Pierre. "She is somebody in whom we all placed our trust and we're all very saddened by this."
A message left on her answering machine last night was not returned. No one answered the door when a Sun reporter knocked on her door last night.
According to authorities, Rood had access to the cash and books at the Tyngsboro church from 2003 until June of 2009. Her responsibilities included counting the charitable donations during the three Sunday Masses.
But St. Pierre became suspicious that something was amiss in May 2009 after he counted the day's offering and found there was $127. The next day Rood, a six-year church employee, claimed there was only $97.
The next week, St. Pierre and other parishioners did their own private count of the donations prior to Rood submitting her figures. Rood's figures, submitted in written form, were smaller and several large bills that had been specifically noted by St. Pierre had gone missing.
In early June 2009, after St. Pierre confronted Rood about the discrepancies in her counting, she was fired.
When investigators reviewed Rood's personal bank records they allegedly discovered a striking pattern of cash deposits, as much as $1,500 at a time, immediately after Sunday services. Rood allegedly could not explain the missing cash. She was paid for her church duties exclusively by check.
Records revealed Rood deposited more than $17,000 in cash in 2005; more than $19,000 in cash in 2006; more than $35,000 in cash in each of the years 2007 and 2008; and had already deposited more than $21,000 in cash in the year 2009 when she was fired in early June.
Her next court date is June 30.
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