Police Concluding Danville, California Church Embezzlement Case

East Bay police Monday night were close to wrapping up an investigation involving an embezzlement scheme at a Danville church involving hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations.

The crime took place at St. Isidore Catholic Church in Danville. KTVU first reported on the embezzlement last September. That was when the investigation began after church officials contacted authorities about apparent financial irregularities.
The pastor told parishioners Sunday that a “staggering” amount of money from donations was embezzled.
After a more than six-month investigation Danville Police Chief Steve Simpkins told KTVU he expects investigators to turn the case over to the Contra Costa County District Attorney as soon as this week.
Sources told KTVU "multiple" people appear to be involved in a complex scheme that netted hundreds of thousands of dollars in church donations over a period of several years.
Sources said one of the central figures in the investigation is a trusted former church employee who worked in the church office located across the street from St. Isadore.
KTVU was not revealing that person's name because charges have not been filed, but most of the members of St. Isidore seem to know who it is.
"I loved her. I thought she was great," said church member Diana Nagy. "You'd just never in a million years would you think that would be happening with her."
Father Jerry Moran told his congregation those irregularities include forging signatures, improper electronic fund transfers and unauthorized credit card use.
KTVU spoke to church members after Monday mass.
"I feel sorry for that person, who has my sympathies, but it doesn't do anything to me as far as my faith," said St. Isidore parishioner Pat McGuire.
Police Chief Simpkins told KTVU it appeared those who embezzled the church donations used the money not for charity as intended, but for personal use.
The church said it now has safeguards in place.