More than a year after a Corona church bookkeeper was arrested on suspicion
of embezzling money, charges have not been filed and the case is under review
for a second time.
Riverside County District attorney’s office spokesman John Hall said this
month that the case against former Corona United Methodist Church treasurer Gigi
Wellott is being reviewed to determine if charges will be filed. Hall declined
to provide additional details, saying he could not discuss the review process on
individual cases.
Wellott, 48, of Corona, was arrested Dec. 16, 2011, on one felony count of
embezzlement. She was released from custody after posting $228,000 bail, court
records show.
The case sat for months without charges being filed and was sent back to
Corona Police Department investigators for additional information. It was then
resubmitted to prosecutors, who are again reviewing the case.
Wellott declined to comment Wednesday, Dec. 26. Her Riverside
attorney Daniel Greenberg said his client insists that she did nothing
wrong.
“She believes if there are any missing funds, it’s not anything on her part,”
Greenberg said. “It’s just some sort of miscalculation by the individuals who
took over her accounting duties.”
He believes charges have not been filed because there’s a lack of evidence to
show wrongdoing.
Corona Police Spokeswoman Kim Velasco said the case was returned because
prosecutors wanted additional statements from church members and information
about church operations.
Wellott was a longtime bookkeeper at the church and is suspected of stealing
$220,000 from the ministry since 2003, shortly after she was elected treasurer
that year.
She resigned in June 2010 after a church committee performed an audit.
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