Plantsville Congregational Treasurer Arrested in Embezzlement Case in Connecticutt

FROM SOUTHINGTON.PATCH.COM -

The former treasurer of the Plantsville Congregational Church is facing charges of embezzlement after police said she took almost $300,000 from the church through unauthorized transactions between 2005 and 2010.

Kelly Saucier, 45, of 48 Blossom Way, turned herself into police Tuesday and was booked on one charge of first-degree larceny through embezzlement. She was released after posting a $100,000 surety bond is scheduled to appear for arraignment in Bristol Superior Court on Aug. 29.
Police said the arrest stems from an investigation into transactions she made as treasurer of the Plantsville-based church between August 2005 and December 2010.
“The investigation was initiated in January after church officials reported the impropriety following a discussion with Saucier,” said Sgt. Lowell DePalma of the Southington Police Department. “Detectives found that she had made over 100 unauthorized transactions moving a total of $293,385.15 from church accounts to her own personal account.”
Police said Saucier, who had access to all church accounts as treasurer, was able to conceal the transactions for a while before a board member eventually discovered the activity.
Church officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
This is the second time this year that a church treasurer has been arrested in connection with thefts from their parish accounts.
In February, New Britain resident Alan Jonas was charged with first-degree larceny after police said he had redirected $395,000 from the First Baptist Church accounts into his own checking account over a four-year period.
Jonas, who is also facing similar charges for incidents in New Britain over the same time period, remains in the state’s custody in lieu of $199,000 in bonds but has not pleaded to any of the charges yet, according to court records.
Police have also investigated similar thefts by bookkeepers with two separate nurseries in town in 2001 as well.
DePalma said these type of occurrences are not uncommon, especially in instances where busy officials are unable to keep a close eye on the books themselves.
“The people they hire are often seen as trustworthy but unfortunately, that’s not always the case,” DePalma said. “The best way to prevent these types of crimes is to hire a second set of eyes to look over the books. Mistakes are sometimes made, not always criminal, but a second set of eyes can help avoid that too.”