Jeffrey Scott Allred, the former pastor of the Journey Church in Sallisaw, will appear before Sequoyah County Associate District Judge Kyle Waters at 1:30 p.m. today (Wednesday, Nov. 18) for arraignment on felony charges of embezzlement and second-degree forgery.
Allred turned himself in to authorities Friday after Sequoyah County District Attorney Brian Kuester issued a warrant for his arrest. He was released the same day on a $7,500 bond.
The charges stem from an investigation conducted by Detective Lance Yoakum of the Sallisaw Police Department, covering a time period between June 2014 through December 2014, in which Allred is alleged to have fraudulently appropriated money in excess of $10,000.
The charges are separate from the civil case that has been filed by Journey Church in an attempt to recover funds the church claims Allred misappropriated by using a credit card for his own personal gain.
A Journey Church secretary filed a report with the Sallisaw Police Department Aug. 26, accusing Allred of embezzlement after the church had an audit done, showing that Allred had allegedly used the church credit card for personal use on multiple occasions.
Yoakum said in his affidavit he was informed by Journey Church Elder Matt Caldwell the church had the forensic audit done by Beale and Barclay accounting firm.
“Caldwell advised that Allred had submitted multiple receipts that showed Allred had purchased items for the church but when compared to the credit card statements it didn’t match,” Yoakum said in the affidavit.
In the month of September 2014, Allred had submitted receipts from Lowe’s. The receipts Allred submitted showed that he had purchased, on the church credit card, a black in color Whirlpool dishwasher for $598.99, a Nemco 4/3 counter top food warmer for $376.46, a Crosley four-burner electric oven for $1,099.99, and a Frigidaire microwave for $306.68 for a total of $2,382.12, Yoakum said in his report.
The affidavit said the actual receipt obtained from Lowe’s on this purchase by Allred showed a Whirlpool brand microwave for $279, a Bosch 800 series stainless steel dishwasher for $899.10 and a Whirlpool brand stove with a double oven and stainless steel for $989.10, which totaled $2,382.12, Yoakum said. The receipts Allred provided the church were fraudulent, according to Yoakum’s report.
Yoakum continued in the report that on June 20, 2014, Allred submitted a receipt to the church that showed he had purchased two JVC HDTV’s for $1,398 and one led 65-inch smart television for $899, totaling $2,297, plus shipping of $202.99, pushing the total up to $2,499.99. The actual receipt obtained from PayPal showed the actual purchase was for a Samsung 65-inch smart TV for a total of $2,499.99. Yoakum said in the affidavit.
Also in June 2014, Yoakum said Allred submitted a receipt to the church showing he had purchased a glass top sitting table for $109.95. The actual receipt obtained from PayPal shows that Allred purchased a Yamaha drive G29 Fender Flare set of four for a golf car for $109.95. “Allred owns a golf cart that is reported to have multiple add-on accessories,” the affidavit said.
In that same month, Allred submitted a receipt to the church showing he had purchased a 6-foot pendant light for $94.99, plus $22.99 for shipping, for a total of $117.98. The actual receipt obtained from PayPal shows that Allred purchased a Yamaha drive cart carbon fiber steering wheel for $117.98, according to Yoakum’s affidavit.
Again, in the same month, “Allred submitted a receipt showing that he had purchased a microwave oven for $668.95. The actual receipt obtained from PayPal showed Allred purchased a Yamaha drive carbon fiber dash compartment, lighted tires and wheel combo for $668.95. Allred also submitted the same month a receipt showing he had purchased a leather armchair for $299.95. The actual receipt obtained from PayPal showed Allred had purchased a Yamaha golf cart flip folding seat for $299.95,” Yoakum said in the affidavit.
According to Yoakum’s investigation, Allred submitted a receipt to the church showing he had purchased a sink for $335. The actual receipt from PayPal show Allred had purchased a granite sink for $336.
“The church does not have a granite sink in it, nor has it had one,” the report said.
The same month, June, 2014, Allred submitted a receipt showing he had purchased a Keurig coffee maker for $149.95, with the actual receipt showing he had purchased a Yamaha LED light kit for a golf cart for $149.95. At that time Allred also submitted a receipt showing he purchased a stainless frame with tempered glass for $141.99, and the actual receipt from PayPal showed Allred purchased a dash assembly for a Yamaha golf cart for $141.95, Yoakum said in his report.
In December 2014, Yoakum said Allred submitted a receipt showing he had purchased Tyndale Bible software for $209.99. The actual receipt from PayPal shows Allred purchased a LEGO train level crossing set for $209.99. In the same month, Allred submitted a receipt showing he purchased Bible software archeology collection for $264.65 and the actual receipt, again from PayPal, shows Allred purchased a LEGO Maersk container train for $264.65, the affidavit said.
“Each receipt that Allred turned in to the church was fraudulent and did not depict what Allred had actually purchased. Allred used the Journey Church credit card for each of these purchases and then deceived the members and elders of the Journey Church with fraudulent receipts,” Yoakum said in the affidavit.
Yoakum continued: “The large kitchen items are reported to be inside Allred’s recently built pool house. The church does not have a golf cart or any items purchased for the golf cart. The church does not have the appliances purchased by Jeff Allred,” Yoakum’s report concluded.
No comments:
Post a Comment