The Grand Haven Department of Public Safety is investigating the possible embezzlement of funds from a school Parent Teacher Association.
Authorities say members of the Ferry Elementary school PTA reported potential irregularities with its bank account.
The amount of money missing is not known but police say there is a suspect in the case.
No arrests have been made.
The Grand Haven Department of Public Safety is investigating a possible embezzlement of money from the Ferry Elementary School Parent Teachers Association.
Police have a suspect in the case, but no arrests had been made as of Tuesday. Police will not release the suspect’s name unless that person is arrested and charged with a crime.
According to Public Safety Director Jeff Hawke, representatives of the school’s PTA reported apparent irregularities with the group’s bank account. It appears that money is missing or unaccounted for, Hawke said.
Detectives are working to gather information on financial transactions to detemine how much is missing.
Showing posts with label MILWAUKEE THIRD WARD CPA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MILWAUKEE THIRD WARD CPA. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Protect Yourself From The Nightmare Of Embezzlement
Embezzlement is committed when a person wrongfully appropriates funds or belongings that are entrusted in their care but which are owned by another person. Embezzlement by employees is one of the most common scenarios but anyone who has any fiduciary responsibility can also be charged.
No one wants to believe it will happen to them but the truth is, financial crimes happen all the time. Unfortunately, sometimes when it happens, innocent individuals may find themselves facing criminal charges. Whether you have been embezzled or you have been falsely arrested for embezzlement, you are going to need an experienced criminal defense attorney to fight for you.
The most effective thing you can do to protect yourself from becoming an embezzlement victim is to evaluate the system you have in place. Are your finances being controlled by a team or is it the responsibility of just one person? If it is just one person, is there anyone auditing that individual regularly? When you give one employee exclusive control over the company’s bank statements and financial records, the chances of being embezzled increases manifold, simply because the opportunity exists and the temptation proves irresistible. Appropriate checks and balances are recommended for all systems.
• Sudden or gradual loss of business revenue that has no plausible explanation.
• Calls from bill collectors asking you to repay debts you aren’t even aware of.
• Employees in charge of company finances living way beyond their means.
• Employees in charge of company finances rarely using their time off to go away on vacation.
• Sudden listing of too many new vendors and accounts that you hadn’t been aware of or updated about.
Embezzlement, fraud and other white collar crimes such as money laundering can all have a negative effect on business. Being vigilant and taking the necessary steps to safeguard yourself are the best things you can do to protect your bottom line.
No one wants to believe it will happen to them but the truth is, financial crimes happen all the time. Unfortunately, sometimes when it happens, innocent individuals may find themselves facing criminal charges. Whether you have been embezzled or you have been falsely arrested for embezzlement, you are going to need an experienced criminal defense attorney to fight for you.
The Best Way To Protect Yourself
Why wait till something happens? The best way to protect yourself against any kind of fraud or theft is to put measures in place that will effectively minimize the opportunities available for embezzlement.The most effective thing you can do to protect yourself from becoming an embezzlement victim is to evaluate the system you have in place. Are your finances being controlled by a team or is it the responsibility of just one person? If it is just one person, is there anyone auditing that individual regularly? When you give one employee exclusive control over the company’s bank statements and financial records, the chances of being embezzled increases manifold, simply because the opportunity exists and the temptation proves irresistible. Appropriate checks and balances are recommended for all systems.
Recognize The Signs Of Embezzlement
There are several indicators that could be possible signs that you are being embezzled. Here are a few things to look for:• Sudden or gradual loss of business revenue that has no plausible explanation.
• Calls from bill collectors asking you to repay debts you aren’t even aware of.
• Employees in charge of company finances living way beyond their means.
• Employees in charge of company finances rarely using their time off to go away on vacation.
• Sudden listing of too many new vendors and accounts that you hadn’t been aware of or updated about.
Embezzlement, fraud and other white collar crimes such as money laundering can all have a negative effect on business. Being vigilant and taking the necessary steps to safeguard yourself are the best things you can do to protect your bottom line.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Nancy O'Donnell sentenced for embezzling church funds in Missouri
A 53-year-old St. Peters woman was sentenced Thursday for embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars in donor funds to a St. Charles County church charity, US Attorney Richard Callahan said.
According to court documents, Nancy O'Donnell served as treasurer for the St. Vincent de Paul Society, a non-profit organization tied to St. Joseph Catholic Church in Cottleville. The charity provides personal financial assistance with furniture, food, clothing, rent, utilities and other necessities to people facing economic and other crises.
The charity receives its funds primarily through donations by St. Joseph parishioners.
As treasurer of the charity, O'Donnell was placed in charge of financial record keeping and depositing funds to the group's bank account and keeping documented paperwork on all monetary movement.
On April 27, 2006, prosecutors said Nancy O'Donnell opened a sham checking account in the name of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, using her own home address as the business address on the account. O'Donnell would take donations given to her by parishioners and deposit them into either the sham account or her personal account. She then wrote checks on both the sham and personal accounts, either to herself or made to "cash," and would then use those funds for personal expenses.
Nancy O'Donnell was sentenced to one year and one day in prison and ordered to pay $209,000 in restitution. Approximately $192,000 has already been repaid.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Audit: Lusher employee embezzled $25,000 from school in New Orleans
An employee in the accounting department at Lusher Charter School embezzled
$25,000 last school year by forging five checks she wrote to herself from the
school’s bank account, according to an audit report obtained by The Lens.
The audit report doesn’t identify the “high ranking employee in the Business Office,” who was ultimately fired. Nor did Lusher CEO Kathy Riedlinger, though she did say the woman had worked at the school for three years.
She said the theft was reported to the New Orleans Police Department.
The audit says, “The total amount stolen is believed to be $25,000, and all was recovered from the dismissed employee.” Auditors recommended that the school keep a closer eye on its blank checks, and in January, the school did develop procedures to do so.
Riedlinger said the school “moved the checks into our safe. And the only people that have access to that are the CFO and me, the CEO.”
She credited the school’s procedures for detecting the theft. CFO Lynden Swayze “kept careful count of the checks” and “realized that several were missing.”
An employee in the accounting department at Lusher Charter
School embezzled $25,000 last school year by forging five checks she wrote to herself
from the school’s bank account, according to an audit report obtained by The
Lens.
The audit report doesn’t identify the “high ranking employee in the Business Office,” who was ultimately fired. Nor did Lusher CEO Kathy Riedlinger, though she did say the woman had worked at the school for three years.
She said the theft was reported to the New Orleans Police Department.
The audit says, “The total amount stolen is believed to be $25,000, and all was recovered from the dismissed employee.” Auditors recommended that the school keep a closer eye on its blank checks, and in January, the school did develop procedures to do so.
Riedlinger said the school “moved the checks into our safe. And the only people that have access to that are the CFO and me, the CEO.”
She credited the school’s procedures for detecting the theft. CFO Lynden Swayze “kept careful count of the checks” and “realized that several were missing.”
An employee in the accounting department at Lusher Charter School embezzled
$25,000 last school year by forging five checks she wrote to herself from the
school’s bank account, according to an audit report obtained by The Lens.
The audit report doesn’t identify the “high ranking employee in the Business Office,” who was ultimately fired. Nor did Lusher CEO Kathy Riedlinger, though she did say the woman had worked at the school for three years.
She said the theft was reported to the New Orleans Police Department.
The audit says, “The total amount stolen is believed to be $25,000, and all was recovered from the dismissed employee.” Auditors recommended that the school keep a closer eye on its blank checks, and in January, the school did develop procedures to do so.
Riedlinger said the school “moved the checks into our safe. And the only people that have access to that are the CFO and me, the CEO.”
She credited the school’s procedures for detecting the theft. CFO Lynden Swayze “kept careful count of the checks” and “realized that several were missing.”
It took a few months for the school to get the money back, Riedlinger said.
The audit report doesn’t identify the “high ranking employee in the Business Office,” who was ultimately fired. Nor did Lusher CEO Kathy Riedlinger, though she did say the woman had worked at the school for three years.
She said the theft was reported to the New Orleans Police Department.
The audit says, “The total amount stolen is believed to be $25,000, and all was recovered from the dismissed employee.” Auditors recommended that the school keep a closer eye on its blank checks, and in January, the school did develop procedures to do so.
Riedlinger said the school “moved the checks into our safe. And the only people that have access to that are the CFO and me, the CEO.”
She credited the school’s procedures for detecting the theft. CFO Lynden Swayze “kept careful count of the checks” and “realized that several were missing.”
It took a few months for the school to get the money back, Riedlinger said.
An employee in the accounting department at Lusher Charter School embezzled
$25,000 last school year by forging five checks she wrote to herself from the
school’s bank account, according to an audit report obtained by The Lens.
The audit report doesn’t identify the “high ranking employee in the Business Office,” who was ultimately fired. Nor did Lusher CEO Kathy Riedlinger, though she did say the woman had worked at the school for three years.
She said the theft was reported to the New Orleans Police Department.
The audit says, “The total amount stolen is believed to be $25,000, and all was recovered from the dismissed employee.” Auditors recommended that the school keep a closer eye on its blank checks, and in January, the school did develop procedures to do so.
Riedlinger said the school “moved the checks into our safe. And the only people that have access to that are the CFO and me, the CEO.”
She credited the school’s procedures for detecting the theft. CFO Lynden Swayze “kept careful count of the checks” and “realized that several were missing.”
It took a few months for the school to get the money back, Riedlinger said.
The audit report doesn’t identify the “high ranking employee in the Business Office,” who was ultimately fired. Nor did Lusher CEO Kathy Riedlinger, though she did say the woman had worked at the school for three years.
She said the theft was reported to the New Orleans Police Department.
The audit says, “The total amount stolen is believed to be $25,000, and all was recovered from the dismissed employee.” Auditors recommended that the school keep a closer eye on its blank checks, and in January, the school did develop procedures to do so.
Riedlinger said the school “moved the checks into our safe. And the only people that have access to that are the CFO and me, the CEO.”
She credited the school’s procedures for detecting the theft. CFO Lynden Swayze “kept careful count of the checks” and “realized that several were missing.”
It took a few months for the school to get the money back, Riedlinger said.
The audit report doesn’t identify the “high ranking employee
in the Business Office,” who was ultimately fired. Nor did Lusher CEO Kathy
Riedlinger, though she did say the woman had worked at the school for three
years.
She said the theft was reported to the New Orleans Police
Department.
The audit says, “The total amount stolen is believed to be
$25,000, and all was recovered from the dismissed employee.” Auditors
recommended that the school keep a closer eye on its blank checks, and in
January, the school did develop procedures to do so.
Riedlinger said the school “moved the checks into our safe.
And the only people that have access to that are the CFO and me, the CEO.”
She credited the school’s procedures for detecting the
theft. CFO Lynden Swayze “kept careful count of the checks” and “realized that
several were missing.”
It took a few months for the school to get the money back,
Riedlinger said.
This isn’t the first time a business employee has been
accused of stealing from a charter school. In 2010, Kelly
Thompson was sentenced to five years in prison for stealing $660,000 while
business manager at Langston Hughes Academy.
Lusher’s auditors also cited the school for failing to
record some financial transactions and failing to track its federal and state
grant expenses. Charters must submit paperwork to the school board to be
reimbursed for federal grants.
The school didn’t track $407,000 in federal grant expenses,
according to the report, and it didn’t submit reimbursement requests to the
parish school board for those costs. In the course of the audit, the school
tracked and submitted those requests.
The school also had $243,000 recorded in grant
reimbursements the previous school year, but that money actually wasn’t
received. Auditors adjusted the school’s financial records to account for the discrepancy.
The school also missed its deadline to submit the audit to
the Orleans Parish School Board. The report is dated Friday; it was due Sept.
30.
The report says the delay was caused by the amount of work
it took to reconcile financial records.
A New Orleans police report on embezzlement at Lusher Charter School provides
more details regarding the theft of $25,000 last school year, including the name
of the employee involved.
Accounting office employee Lauren Hightower, 30, forged the signature of Lusher Chief Executive Officer Kathy Riedlinger and others on six checks, according to the report released Friday to The Lens.
The theft at Lusher came to light through an audit report made public last week that said only that a “high ranking employee in the business office” embezzled the money.
Lusher officials tightened internal controls over blank checks in response to the theft.
Hightower has not been charged with a crime, and the investigation is ongoing, New Orleans Police spokesman Officer Garry Flot said.
Reached by phone, Hightower declined to comment.
Riedlinger said Friday that the school reported the theft to the police, the district attorney and the legislative auditor, asking each to “pursue this to the fullest.”
The forged checks were discovered by school Chief Financial Officer Lynden Swayze.
According to the police report:
Swayze told police that Hightower initially told her she’d taken 11 checks and cashed one $5,000 check. Hightower then told Swayze that she shredded the 10 checks that were left.
Swayze requested copies of the school’s checks from Whitney Bank and found that Hightower had actually written out five checks to herself for $5,000 each, and an $800 check made payable to cash.
The checks showed forged signatures in the name of Riedlinger, Swayze, middle school Principal Brenda Bourne and high school Principal Wiley Ates, according to Swayze’s rendering of the incident.
Police officers confiscated copies of the forged checks for evidence.
ook a few months for the school to get the money back, Riedlinger
said.Accounting office employee Lauren Hightower, 30, forged the signature of Lusher Chief Executive Officer Kathy Riedlinger and others on six checks, according to the report released Friday to The Lens.
The theft at Lusher came to light through an audit report made public last week that said only that a “high ranking employee in the business office” embezzled the money.
Lusher officials tightened internal controls over blank checks in response to the theft.
Hightower has not been charged with a crime, and the investigation is ongoing, New Orleans Police spokesman Officer Garry Flot said.
Reached by phone, Hightower declined to comment.
Riedlinger said Friday that the school reported the theft to the police, the district attorney and the legislative auditor, asking each to “pursue this to the fullest.”
The forged checks were discovered by school Chief Financial Officer Lynden Swayze.
According to the police report:
Swayze told police that Hightower initially told her she’d taken 11 checks and cashed one $5,000 check. Hightower then told Swayze that she shredded the 10 checks that were left.
Swayze requested copies of the school’s checks from Whitney Bank and found that Hightower had actually written out five checks to herself for $5,000 each, and an $800 check made payable to cash.
The checks showed forged signatures in the name of Riedlinger, Swayze, middle school Principal Brenda Bourne and high school Principal Wiley Ates, according to Swayze’s rendering of the incident.
Police officers confiscated copies of the forged checks for evidence.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
DA files charges in church embezzlement Police: $109,454 missing from St. John’s
Oklahoma County prosecutors have filed formal felony charges against a former business manager accused of embezzling $109,454 from an Edmond church.
On Monday, Jenny Monroe, spokeswoman for the Edmond Police Department said the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s office filed felony charges against Bill Dwight Coyle, 62, of Edmond. Future court dates were not yet posted on the Oklahoma State Courts Network online database.
Monroe said on Friday Edmond detectives presented information for eight felony counts to the DA’s office in regards to a complaint from St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 924 S. Littler Ave. Efforts to gain comment from church staff Monday evening were not successful.
According to the incident report, filed by Edmond Police Officer Jonathan Cramer in July, Coyle was a deacon and administrator at the church. It stated he was no longer employed by the church at that time.
Identification information of the reporting party and five witnesses was redacted in the police report. It lists incident property as $109,454 in cash and a church-owned 256 MG USB flash drive.
Monroe said the Police Department worked jointly with the white collar crimes division of the DA’s office and filed paperwork seeking the felony charges after an extensive five-month investigation. The department pursued eight counts of Computer Crimes Act violations against Coyle, she said.
When reached by phone, Coyle was given an opportunity to state his side of the story.
“I have no comment,” he told The Edmond Sun on Monday evening.
Coyle confirmed he has retained an Oklahoma City attorney. Contact information for the attorney was not available before press time.
In the report Cramer stated he was told an audit, ordered after concerns arose regarding missing money, found that $109,454 was missing. Cramer stated that he was told the defendant was the church’s business manager at the time of the alleged embezzlement.
According to the reporting party the defendant agreed to make restitution to the church for an unspecified amount before the audit was completed, Cramer stated. The audit revealed an amount of missing funds considerably more than that which was originally known to be missing, the report stated.
Monroe deferred further inquiries about the case to the DA’s office, which was closed for the day when the information was received. The developments conclude the Police Department’s investigation, Monroe said.Google Nexus 7 32GB Tablet NEXUS7ASUS- (Google Affiliate Ad)LG 47 " Black 1080p LED 120Hz HDTV - 47LS4600 (Google Affiliate Ad)Apple Lightning To 30-Pin Adapter - MD823ZMA (Google Affiliate Ad)Microsoft Xbox 360 Call Of Duty: Black Ops II - XB3ACT84385 (Google Affiliate Ad)Canon EOS Rebel T3i Digital SLR Camera With 18-55mm IS II Kit - REBEL T3i (Google Affiliate Ad)Nutribullet Superfood Nutrition Extractor (Google Affiliate Ad)Microsoft Halo 4 Standard Edition Xbox 360 HND-00040 (Google Affiliate Ad)Microsoft Halo 4 Standard Edition Xbox 360 HND-00040 (Google Affiliate Ad)Microsoft Xbox 360 Halo 4 - XB3MICHND040 (Google Affiliate Ad)Microsoft Xbox 360 Halo 4 - XB3MICHND040 (Google Affiliate Ad)
On Monday, Jenny Monroe, spokeswoman for the Edmond Police Department said the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s office filed felony charges against Bill Dwight Coyle, 62, of Edmond. Future court dates were not yet posted on the Oklahoma State Courts Network online database.
Monroe said on Friday Edmond detectives presented information for eight felony counts to the DA’s office in regards to a complaint from St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 924 S. Littler Ave. Efforts to gain comment from church staff Monday evening were not successful.
According to the incident report, filed by Edmond Police Officer Jonathan Cramer in July, Coyle was a deacon and administrator at the church. It stated he was no longer employed by the church at that time.
Identification information of the reporting party and five witnesses was redacted in the police report. It lists incident property as $109,454 in cash and a church-owned 256 MG USB flash drive.
Monroe said the Police Department worked jointly with the white collar crimes division of the DA’s office and filed paperwork seeking the felony charges after an extensive five-month investigation. The department pursued eight counts of Computer Crimes Act violations against Coyle, she said.
When reached by phone, Coyle was given an opportunity to state his side of the story.
“I have no comment,” he told The Edmond Sun on Monday evening.
Coyle confirmed he has retained an Oklahoma City attorney. Contact information for the attorney was not available before press time.
In the report Cramer stated he was told an audit, ordered after concerns arose regarding missing money, found that $109,454 was missing. Cramer stated that he was told the defendant was the church’s business manager at the time of the alleged embezzlement.
According to the reporting party the defendant agreed to make restitution to the church for an unspecified amount before the audit was completed, Cramer stated. The audit revealed an amount of missing funds considerably more than that which was originally known to be missing, the report stated.
Monroe deferred further inquiries about the case to the DA’s office, which was closed for the day when the information was received. The developments conclude the Police Department’s investigation, Monroe said.Google Nexus 7 32GB Tablet NEXUS7ASUS- (Google Affiliate Ad)LG 47 " Black 1080p LED 120Hz HDTV - 47LS4600 (Google Affiliate Ad)Apple Lightning To 30-Pin Adapter - MD823ZMA (Google Affiliate Ad)Microsoft Xbox 360 Call Of Duty: Black Ops II - XB3ACT84385 (Google Affiliate Ad)Canon EOS Rebel T3i Digital SLR Camera With 18-55mm IS II Kit - REBEL T3i (Google Affiliate Ad)Nutribullet Superfood Nutrition Extractor (Google Affiliate Ad)Microsoft Halo 4 Standard Edition Xbox 360 HND-00040 (Google Affiliate Ad)Microsoft Halo 4 Standard Edition Xbox 360 HND-00040 (Google Affiliate Ad)Microsoft Xbox 360 Halo 4 - XB3MICHND040 (Google Affiliate Ad)Microsoft Xbox 360 Halo 4 - XB3MICHND040 (Google Affiliate Ad)
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Columbus, Wisconsin Secretary Accused Of Stealing From School
Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced today that Susan Droessler, of
Columbus, Wisconsin, has been charged with one count of felony theft. An initial
appearance has been scheduled for December 19, 2012, in Columbia County Circuit
Court.
According to the Criminal Complaint, Droessler worked for a period of time as a secretary and bookkeeper for St. Jerome Parish and School in Columbus. In January of 2010, a trustee on the parish finance council discovered that for a period of time dating back to at least the beginning of 2007, large sums of money had been misappropriated from the church and school. A subsequent investigation by the Columbus Police Department revealed that the defendant, who was able to write checks from the school and parish accounts, used parish and school funds to pay for various personal and family expenses, such as items totaling more than $5,000 at Wal-Mart, more than $17,000 for various credit card accounts in the defendant’s name, and numerous other expenses for items and bills.
It is also alleged that the defendant enrolled herself in full-time health benefits through the parish, to which she was not entitled. It is believed that the total amount of premiums paid by the parish from August 2004 through August 2010 for the defendant’s family coverage, dental plan, and vision insurance was in excess of $88,000. Parish officials confirmed that the defendant was not entitled to receive these benefits, nor was she entitled to use any of the school funds for personal use.
The charge of felony theft in this case is a class G felony, punishable by a fine of not more than $25,000 or imprisonment for not more than 10 years, or both.
A criminal complaint is a document accusing a person of a violation of criminal law. A defendant enjoys a presumption of innocence. The prosecution must prove its allegations at trial beyond a reasonable doubt.
Assistant Attorney General David W. Maas is representing the State. This case was investigated by the Columbus Police Department.
According to the Criminal Complaint, Droessler worked for a period of time as a secretary and bookkeeper for St. Jerome Parish and School in Columbus. In January of 2010, a trustee on the parish finance council discovered that for a period of time dating back to at least the beginning of 2007, large sums of money had been misappropriated from the church and school. A subsequent investigation by the Columbus Police Department revealed that the defendant, who was able to write checks from the school and parish accounts, used parish and school funds to pay for various personal and family expenses, such as items totaling more than $5,000 at Wal-Mart, more than $17,000 for various credit card accounts in the defendant’s name, and numerous other expenses for items and bills.
It is also alleged that the defendant enrolled herself in full-time health benefits through the parish, to which she was not entitled. It is believed that the total amount of premiums paid by the parish from August 2004 through August 2010 for the defendant’s family coverage, dental plan, and vision insurance was in excess of $88,000. Parish officials confirmed that the defendant was not entitled to receive these benefits, nor was she entitled to use any of the school funds for personal use.
The charge of felony theft in this case is a class G felony, punishable by a fine of not more than $25,000 or imprisonment for not more than 10 years, or both.
A criminal complaint is a document accusing a person of a violation of criminal law. A defendant enjoys a presumption of innocence. The prosecution must prove its allegations at trial beyond a reasonable doubt.
Assistant Attorney General David W. Maas is representing the State. This case was investigated by the Columbus Police Department.
Ex-school secretary sentenced to one year for embezzlement in Hawaii
Former Fern Elementary School secretary Williamina Muranaka is going to jail for a year for stealing nearly $15,000 from the Kalihi school over a 2 1/2-year period.
Circuit Judge Richard Perkins sentenced Muranaka, 44, to five years of probation this morning and imposed the jail term as a condition of probation.
Muranaka will begin serving her jail term after the holidays.
The state had asked Perkins to sentence Muranaka to 10 years in prison because she failed to pay back the money she stole by today’s sentencing.
Muranaka pleaded guilty in May to 13 counts of theft and one for bribery.
The bribery charge is for accepting more than $2,000 worth of gift cards from the vendor who supplied the school with copier supplies for ordering printer/toner cartridges at exorbitant prices.
Muranaka used more than half of the money she stole to pay her rent in state public housing
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Ex-Principal Takes Plea Deal in Embezzlement Case in Michigan
FROM ROYALOAKPATCH.COM -
The former Royal Oak High School principal who was charged with with taking funds from Royal Oak's student activities account has accepted a plea bargain.
Michael Greening, 46, of Royal Oak, pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of more than $1,000 but less than $20,000 as part of a negotiated plea deal he struck in Oakland County Circuit Court today.
As part of the plea bargain, a second embezzlement count was dismissed, as were two alternative counts. Judge Shalina Kumar ordered a sentencing hearing to be held on Jan. 22 at 10 a.m.
When asked if he had come into possession of money belonging to student accounts and used it for his personal use, Greening, under oath, answered, “Yes.”
Greening resigned from all employment with the school district in June.
As part of the negotiated deal, Greening has agreed to pay $25,558 in restitution. Costs for legal and accounting fees are still subject to determination at a future hearing.
Because Greening has no prior convictions, the sentencing guidelines are low—probation to six months jail time. Assistant Prosecutor Robert Novy did not offer a position on sentencing in court.
Under the law, after five years, Greening is eligible to apply for an expungement proceeding, which allows a person with a single criminal conviction to make his or her records unavailable.
Superintendent Shawn Lewis-Lakin provided this statement:
The former Royal Oak High School principal who was charged with with taking funds from Royal Oak's student activities account has accepted a plea bargain.
Michael Greening, 46, of Royal Oak, pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of more than $1,000 but less than $20,000 as part of a negotiated plea deal he struck in Oakland County Circuit Court today.
As part of the plea bargain, a second embezzlement count was dismissed, as were two alternative counts. Judge Shalina Kumar ordered a sentencing hearing to be held on Jan. 22 at 10 a.m.
When asked if he had come into possession of money belonging to student accounts and used it for his personal use, Greening, under oath, answered, “Yes.”
Greening resigned from all employment with the school district in June.
As part of the negotiated deal, Greening has agreed to pay $25,558 in restitution. Costs for legal and accounting fees are still subject to determination at a future hearing.
Because Greening has no prior convictions, the sentencing guidelines are low—probation to six months jail time. Assistant Prosecutor Robert Novy did not offer a position on sentencing in court.
Under the law, after five years, Greening is eligible to apply for an expungement proceeding, which allows a person with a single criminal conviction to make his or her records unavailable.
Superintendent Shawn Lewis-Lakin provided this statement:
Our commitment has always been to an objective, thorough, complete, and fair process to resolve this very sad situation. Our internal investigation, the work of external auditors, the police investigation, and the prosecutor's office all came to the same conclusion. Mr. Greening's admission of wrongdoing and his guilty plea move us towards final resolution.
Since January 3, 2012, Royal Oak High School has been under the leadership of Mr. Jim Moll, interim principal. This school year, enrollments in Advanced Placement Courses are at an all-time high, and new supports for students at risk of failure have been implemented. Student achievement is increasing. The school is moving forward. Mr. Moll's service as our interim principal will continue through June 30, 2013. In January 2013, we will begin the hiring process for our next principal.
As Kentwood pastor's embezzlement tally doubles to $316,000, some church members continue their support in Michigan
Even as a Kent County Circuit Court judge learned a long-time Kentwood area
pastor embezzled more than $300,000—about
two and a half times the amount first thought—church members came out in
full force Tuesday, Dec. 11, to support their former leader at his
sentencing.
"We just know that God is faithful," said Debbie Mills, who has attended Heritage Baptist Church for 20 of the nearly 26 years Etheridge Henry Moore served as pastor. "He loves us no matter what."
Moore was sentenced to 1 to 20 years in prison, but will be recommended for a boot camp program that could allow him to be back to work at a Holland area car dealership within six months.
The situation, Circuit Judge Donald Johnston said, was rather unique. Johnston told church members he had likely spent more time on Moore's case than "any others I've dealt with all year long."
Moore turned himself in to church leadership and asked they contact police about his actions. Church members eventually submitted several letters displaying their hope and support for Moore's future, Johnston said.
But as a judge, Johnston's job was different than that of a pastor, he said. He had to focus on the crime at hand.
Though the amount of money involved was first thought to be around $113,000, Johnston was told last week the actual embezzlement likely totaled about $206,000. This week, he learned from the church board director that losses totaled at least $316,000.
Speaking of his job as a judge, he said, "We're not in the forgiveness business. We're in the adjudication business."
Johnston hoped the sentence would allow Moore to return to work soon—where he reportedly earned "salesman of the month" status recently—to begin paying restitution.
Moore's wife wiped away tears as she sat in the courtroom gallery, surrounded by church members.
As Moore addressed the court, he spoke to her in an emotional moment, acknowledging "I'm not the husband and father" others believed him to be.
"The church loved and trusted me for nearly 26 years and I took advantage of that trust," he said. "I have embarrassed the cause of Christ."
"I plead for mercy today," he said.
Moore must pay $320,000 in restitution. That will cover an estimated $316,000 loss and about $4,000 the church spent on accounting services to determine losses.
"We just know that God is faithful," said Debbie Mills, who has attended Heritage Baptist Church for 20 of the nearly 26 years Etheridge Henry Moore served as pastor. "He loves us no matter what."
Moore was sentenced to 1 to 20 years in prison, but will be recommended for a boot camp program that could allow him to be back to work at a Holland area car dealership within six months.
The situation, Circuit Judge Donald Johnston said, was rather unique. Johnston told church members he had likely spent more time on Moore's case than "any others I've dealt with all year long."
Moore turned himself in to church leadership and asked they contact police about his actions. Church members eventually submitted several letters displaying their hope and support for Moore's future, Johnston said.
But as a judge, Johnston's job was different than that of a pastor, he said. He had to focus on the crime at hand.
Though the amount of money involved was first thought to be around $113,000, Johnston was told last week the actual embezzlement likely totaled about $206,000. This week, he learned from the church board director that losses totaled at least $316,000.
Speaking of his job as a judge, he said, "We're not in the forgiveness business. We're in the adjudication business."
Johnston hoped the sentence would allow Moore to return to work soon—where he reportedly earned "salesman of the month" status recently—to begin paying restitution.
Moore's wife wiped away tears as she sat in the courtroom gallery, surrounded by church members.
As Moore addressed the court, he spoke to her in an emotional moment, acknowledging "I'm not the husband and father" others believed him to be.
"The church loved and trusted me for nearly 26 years and I took advantage of that trust," he said. "I have embarrassed the cause of Christ."
"I plead for mercy today," he said.
Moore must pay $320,000 in restitution. That will cover an estimated $316,000 loss and about $4,000 the church spent on accounting services to determine losses.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Woman Pleads Guilty In United Catholic Credit Union Embezzlement in Michigan
A Toledo woman who allegedly pocketed about
$2.1 million from the United Catholic Credit Union in Temperance has pleaded
guilty as charged to one count each of financial institution embezzlement and
racketeering, with both felonies punishable by up to 20 years.
Sharon Broadway, 61, pleaded guilty to
embezzling the money from the credit union since 1985 before Monroe County
Circuit Court Judge Michael A. Weipert. Both the embezzlement and the
racketeering charges are 20-year felonies, Michigan Attorney General Bill
Schuette said. She will be sentenced by Judge Weipert at 9 a.m. Jan. 17.
Mr. Schuette charged the woman after a
routine examination by the Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation (OFIR)
revealed that a substantial amount of certificates of deposit went unrecorded on
the credit union’s books.
“Whenever a Michigan family makes a deposit
into their accredited financial institution, they should not have to worry about
the safety of their hard-earned money or that their assets are being used for
personal gain,” Mr. Schuette said in a press release. “Our office will continue
to work closely with the OFIR to bring criminals to justice when they unfairly
manipulate the system.”
As manager, secretary, board member and sole
employee of the credit union, Ms. Broadway was able to conceal her crimes for
years using a complex money laundering scheme involving forged checks and
multiple aliases. According to the charges, she used the embezzled money as her
personal funds.
The OFIR closed the credit union in August
and appointed the National Credit Union Administration as receiver. The
administration insures credit union deposits much the same way the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation insures bank deposits, therefore no credit union
depositors lost money, Mr. Schuette said. On Dec. 4, the OFIR issued a formal
prohibition order that prevents Ms. Broadway from working in the
Michigan-chartered credit union industry in the future.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Nevada Principal Replaced Due to Michigan Embezzlement Charges
A temporary replacement has been named for a Sparks elementary school principal
who was placed on administrative leave after officials learned he's on parole
for embezzling in Michigan.
The Reno Gazette-Journal reports that Rick Harris will replace Andrew Stansberry at Moss Elementary School beginning Monday.
The action was required after Washoe County School District officials recently learned that Stansberry had been sentenced for embezzling $26,796 from a school fund while a principal for Michigan's Benton Harbor School District.
Washoe district officials said there was no update on the investigation of Stansberry or what might happen at the Sparks school if he is terminated.
Harris is a 25-year veteran of the Washoe school district.
The Reno Gazette-Journal reports that Rick Harris will replace Andrew Stansberry at Moss Elementary School beginning Monday.
The action was required after Washoe County School District officials recently learned that Stansberry had been sentenced for embezzling $26,796 from a school fund while a principal for Michigan's Benton Harbor School District.
Washoe district officials said there was no update on the investigation of Stansberry or what might happen at the Sparks school if he is terminated.
Harris is a 25-year veteran of the Washoe school district.
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Ex-church secretary in Mississippi sentenced for embezzlement
A former church secretary has pleaded guilty to stealing money from the
congregation.
Assistant District Attorney Dennis Bisnette tells The Chronicle that Avis Weems allegedly stole more than $80,000 from collections at the East Jerusalem Full Gospel Church in Laurel between August of 2004 and December of 2008.
Bisnette says Weems had worked at the church for four years.
Weems was arrested in 2009. She pleaded guilty this past week in Jones County Circuit Court.
Bisnette says Weems was sentenced to 10 years in prison with 36 months to serve under house arrest. He says the remaining seven years would be suspended if she completes five years of post-release supervised probation and community service.
She was also ordered to pay restitution.
Assistant District Attorney Dennis Bisnette tells The Chronicle that Avis Weems allegedly stole more than $80,000 from collections at the East Jerusalem Full Gospel Church in Laurel between August of 2004 and December of 2008.
Bisnette says Weems had worked at the church for four years.
Weems was arrested in 2009. She pleaded guilty this past week in Jones County Circuit Court.
Bisnette says Weems was sentenced to 10 years in prison with 36 months to serve under house arrest. He says the remaining seven years would be suspended if she completes five years of post-release supervised probation and community service.
She was also ordered to pay restitution.
Georgia Bureau of Investigation investigating thousands missing from church accounts
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is looking into the possible embezzlement
of more than $128,000 from a Baptist church in Lincoln County, law enforcement
officials said Friday.
Double Branches Baptist Church in Lincolnton reported the missing money to
the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office on Aug. 30, according to an incident
report.
The discovery resulted from an internal investigation by church officials into failures to pay a bank note on a church-owned vehicle, the report stated. Officials told police that money was found to be missing from the church’s cemetery fund, its Georgia Baptist Convention fund and other accounts.
They also reported that “a great deal of money” had been used for personal gain and that unauthorized credit cards had been acquired in the church’s name.
A church financial officer has resigned a position he held for 16 years, the report said.
No arrests had been made as of Friday, officials said.
GBI special agent in charge Mike Ayers said the sheriff’s office had turned over the case to his agency. Ayers said he had been waiting on the results of a forensic audit of bank accounts to be completed before proceeding with the investigation. He said that audit was delivered to him Friday.
“We are trying to digest all of this information before moving forward,” he said.
Lincoln County Sheriff Gerald Lawson said that he couldn’t discuss case details but that news of the investigation had begun to ripple through the community.
“This is a big deal here,” Lawson said. “A lot of people are going to be hurt.”
The discovery resulted from an internal investigation by church officials into failures to pay a bank note on a church-owned vehicle, the report stated. Officials told police that money was found to be missing from the church’s cemetery fund, its Georgia Baptist Convention fund and other accounts.
They also reported that “a great deal of money” had been used for personal gain and that unauthorized credit cards had been acquired in the church’s name.
A church financial officer has resigned a position he held for 16 years, the report said.
No arrests had been made as of Friday, officials said.
GBI special agent in charge Mike Ayers said the sheriff’s office had turned over the case to his agency. Ayers said he had been waiting on the results of a forensic audit of bank accounts to be completed before proceeding with the investigation. He said that audit was delivered to him Friday.
“We are trying to digest all of this information before moving forward,” he said.
Lincoln County Sheriff Gerald Lawson said that he couldn’t discuss case details but that news of the investigation had begun to ripple through the community.
“This is a big deal here,” Lawson said. “A lot of people are going to be hurt.”
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Former Tri County principal sentenced for embezzlement in Michigan
FROM THE DAILYNEWS.CC.COM -
The former Tri County Middle School principal has been sentenced to do time on a work crew after pleading guilty to embezzling from his school.
William “Bill” Cichewicz was sentenced Thursday in 8th Judicial Circuit Court. He previously pleaded guilty to embezzlement from $200 to $1,000, a misdemeanor with a maximum sentence of one year.
He was sentenced to 25 days in jail — to be served on a work crew — six months probation and $1,705 in fines, costs and other fees.
Cichewicz was fired June 22 after he was charged with embezzling $1,350 from the school’s booster fund.
“As a school community, we are committed to excellence in all that we do,” said Tri County Area Schools Superintendent Al Cumings in a written statement. “This commitment means that we hold our students, staff and most of all our leadership accountable for behaviors and choices that do not reflect our community values.”
Cichewicz quickly made full restitution of the $1,350 he embezzled. He also wrote a letter of apology to the school district. In his letter, he detailed how he embezzled from the school over a period of months.
“I was tempted by the money that was available and I began to take some each time,” he said. “When confronted, I not only felt horrible about what I did, I also felt a sense of relief. Secrets such as these ate away at me as a person and as a leader. I felt guilt about what I was doing and my own violation of a moral code to which I normally adhere. I was trapped in the deceit that comes with breaking the trust of so many who looked up to me.
“When trust is broken, words are less important and actions over time are needed to restore a sense of credibility and respect,” he said. “It is my goal to engage with people in a way that demonstrates that lessons have been learned and behaviors have changed.”
In a follow up letter to parents, Cumings expressed his hope that the focus of the community would be “on the many positive accomplishments that occurred across our district this past year.”
In addition, the letter expressed appreciation to the many volunteers and booster club members for their fundraising assistance and hours of hard work that “keep student dreams and activities alive” in an era of shrinking budgets.
Steve Johnson has since been named principal at Tri County Middle School. Johnson is a former seventh grade English teacher at Tri County and has been assistant principal at Sparta Middle School for the past three years.
“Steve is excited to be back at Tri County,” Cumings said. “We are thrilled to have his leadership back at our school.”
The former Tri County Middle School principal has been sentenced to do time on a work crew after pleading guilty to embezzling from his school.
William “Bill” Cichewicz was sentenced Thursday in 8th Judicial Circuit Court. He previously pleaded guilty to embezzlement from $200 to $1,000, a misdemeanor with a maximum sentence of one year.
He was sentenced to 25 days in jail — to be served on a work crew — six months probation and $1,705 in fines, costs and other fees.
Cichewicz was fired June 22 after he was charged with embezzling $1,350 from the school’s booster fund.
“As a school community, we are committed to excellence in all that we do,” said Tri County Area Schools Superintendent Al Cumings in a written statement. “This commitment means that we hold our students, staff and most of all our leadership accountable for behaviors and choices that do not reflect our community values.”
Cichewicz quickly made full restitution of the $1,350 he embezzled. He also wrote a letter of apology to the school district. In his letter, he detailed how he embezzled from the school over a period of months.
“I was tempted by the money that was available and I began to take some each time,” he said. “When confronted, I not only felt horrible about what I did, I also felt a sense of relief. Secrets such as these ate away at me as a person and as a leader. I felt guilt about what I was doing and my own violation of a moral code to which I normally adhere. I was trapped in the deceit that comes with breaking the trust of so many who looked up to me.
“When trust is broken, words are less important and actions over time are needed to restore a sense of credibility and respect,” he said. “It is my goal to engage with people in a way that demonstrates that lessons have been learned and behaviors have changed.”
In a follow up letter to parents, Cumings expressed his hope that the focus of the community would be “on the many positive accomplishments that occurred across our district this past year.”
In addition, the letter expressed appreciation to the many volunteers and booster club members for their fundraising assistance and hours of hard work that “keep student dreams and activities alive” in an era of shrinking budgets.
Steve Johnson has since been named principal at Tri County Middle School. Johnson is a former seventh grade English teacher at Tri County and has been assistant principal at Sparta Middle School for the past three years.
“Steve is excited to be back at Tri County,” Cumings said. “We are thrilled to have his leadership back at our school.”
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
A pre-trial hearing has been postponed for Michael Greening, the former Royal Oak High School principal alleged of embezzling between $2,000 and $40,000 from Royal Oak's student activities fund in Michigan.
FROM ROYALOAKPATCH.COM -
A pre-trial hearing has been postponed for Michael Greening, the former Royal Oak High School principal alleged of embezzling between $2,000 and $40,000 from Royal Oak's student activities fund.
Greening’s pre-trial hearing Tuesday morning in Oakland County Circuit Court in Pontiac was rescheduled to Oct. 9 to give defense attorney Paul Stablein time to review transcripts of the 44th District Court preliminary hearing.
“It’s common practice to ask for more time," said Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor Robert Novy.
Transcripts include two days of testimony, including Royal Oak Police Department Det. Keith Spencer summarizing his examination of Greening’s bank records and credit card statements, noting it appeared Greening had money troubles.
If convicted on two felony embezzlement charges, Greening faces up to five years in prison and/or a fine of $10,000 or three times the amount embezzled, whichever is greater, for each charge. The former principal, who came to court alone this morning, was released on $50,000 personal recognizance with conditions, including that he not leave the state.
A pre-trial hearing has been postponed for Michael Greening, the former Royal Oak High School principal alleged of embezzling between $2,000 and $40,000 from Royal Oak's student activities fund.
Greening’s pre-trial hearing Tuesday morning in Oakland County Circuit Court in Pontiac was rescheduled to Oct. 9 to give defense attorney Paul Stablein time to review transcripts of the 44th District Court preliminary hearing.
“It’s common practice to ask for more time," said Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor Robert Novy.
Transcripts include two days of testimony, including Royal Oak Police Department Det. Keith Spencer summarizing his examination of Greening’s bank records and credit card statements, noting it appeared Greening had money troubles.
If convicted on two felony embezzlement charges, Greening faces up to five years in prison and/or a fine of $10,000 or three times the amount embezzled, whichever is greater, for each charge. The former principal, who came to court alone this morning, was released on $50,000 personal recognizance with conditions, including that he not leave the state.
Ex-Lee schools business manager Thweatt in court in Mississippi
FROM DJOURNAL.COM -
Former Lee County schools business manager Randy Thweatt, accused of embezzlement, was due Friday to change his not-guilty plea. He did not.
Why wasn't clear after several dozen Thweatt friends and family waited more than an hour in a Lee County Justice Center courtroom.
But about 9:50 a.m., Circuit Judge Paul Funderburk told the audience that Thweatt's case was not to be heard yet.
"Perhaps it will be rescheduled for as early as Tuesday of next week," the judge said.
Funderburk said Thweatt and his attorneys continued to meet about his legal situation and were not ready to proceed.
Thweatt was arrested April 17 at the Lee County School District office by officials of the State Auditor's Office after he was indicted on two counts of embezzlement - regarding a 2006 Ford Ranger pickup truck and a district air-conditioning unit he was accused of installing in a Starkville mobile home he owns.
Friday, he wore a dark suit and tie as he entered the Lee County Justice center about 8:20 a.m. with his family. Among the audience observers were former Lee County Schools Superintendent Johnny Green and district personnel director Johnny Dye.
Earlier in the week, sources on both sides said they expected Thweatt to change his plea to guilty and be sentenced.
But each side differed on the level of punishment they speculated to be handed down - from house arrest to up to a year in prison.
Thweatt's attorney, Robert "Chip" Davis, did not respond to a Journal request to comment.
About 30 minutes after the hearing was set to begin, Davis escorted Thweatt and co-counsel Ed Priest to confer outside the courtroom. They weren't seen in the courtroom after Funderburk's announcement.
Records obtained by the Daily Journal soon after Thweatt's arrest show the pickup truck was signed over to him by Ralph Capps, the district's transportation director, who was placed on administrative leave with Thweatt on April 17. Capps told the Daily Journal he signed the document as the seller because he was told to do so by Thweatt.
No charges have been filed against anyone else, although auditor's investigators stated they "were looking" at a couple of others. Thweatt announced his retirement shortly after he was indicted.
Read more: djournal.com - No new plea Ex Lee schools business manager Thweatt in court
Former Lee County schools business manager Randy Thweatt, accused of embezzlement, was due Friday to change his not-guilty plea. He did not.
Why wasn't clear after several dozen Thweatt friends and family waited more than an hour in a Lee County Justice Center courtroom.
But about 9:50 a.m., Circuit Judge Paul Funderburk told the audience that Thweatt's case was not to be heard yet.
"Perhaps it will be rescheduled for as early as Tuesday of next week," the judge said.
Funderburk said Thweatt and his attorneys continued to meet about his legal situation and were not ready to proceed.
Thweatt was arrested April 17 at the Lee County School District office by officials of the State Auditor's Office after he was indicted on two counts of embezzlement - regarding a 2006 Ford Ranger pickup truck and a district air-conditioning unit he was accused of installing in a Starkville mobile home he owns.
Friday, he wore a dark suit and tie as he entered the Lee County Justice center about 8:20 a.m. with his family. Among the audience observers were former Lee County Schools Superintendent Johnny Green and district personnel director Johnny Dye.
Earlier in the week, sources on both sides said they expected Thweatt to change his plea to guilty and be sentenced.
But each side differed on the level of punishment they speculated to be handed down - from house arrest to up to a year in prison.
Thweatt's attorney, Robert "Chip" Davis, did not respond to a Journal request to comment.
About 30 minutes after the hearing was set to begin, Davis escorted Thweatt and co-counsel Ed Priest to confer outside the courtroom. They weren't seen in the courtroom after Funderburk's announcement.
Records obtained by the Daily Journal soon after Thweatt's arrest show the pickup truck was signed over to him by Ralph Capps, the district's transportation director, who was placed on administrative leave with Thweatt on April 17. Capps told the Daily Journal he signed the document as the seller because he was told to do so by Thweatt.
No charges have been filed against anyone else, although auditor's investigators stated they "were looking" at a couple of others. Thweatt announced his retirement shortly after he was indicted.
Read more: djournal.com - No new plea Ex Lee schools business manager Thweatt in court
Nevada Woman Accused of Embezzling from Church
FROM KOLOTV.COM -
A 45-year-old woman accused of embezzling more than $40,000 from a Douglas County church has waived her preliminary hearing in East Fork Justice Court.
Tracey Taylor of Carson City is scheduled to appear Sept. 17 in Douglas County District Court.
She has been charged with a felony embezzlement count in the theft of $41,727 from the Corpus Christi Catholic Church in a check-cashing scheme.
Taylor is accused of writing multiple checks against the church bank account that went to herself, Walmart, two banks, JCPenney and others.
According to court documents, she has been suspended from her part-time job at the church. She had worked for the church since 2006.
Taylor has been a teacher at St. Teresa of Avila Catholic School in Carson City.
A 45-year-old woman accused of embezzling more than $40,000 from a Douglas County church has waived her preliminary hearing in East Fork Justice Court.
Tracey Taylor of Carson City is scheduled to appear Sept. 17 in Douglas County District Court.
She has been charged with a felony embezzlement count in the theft of $41,727 from the Corpus Christi Catholic Church in a check-cashing scheme.
Taylor is accused of writing multiple checks against the church bank account that went to herself, Walmart, two banks, JCPenney and others.
According to court documents, she has been suspended from her part-time job at the church. She had worked for the church since 2006.
Taylor has been a teacher at St. Teresa of Avila Catholic School in Carson City.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Woman Accused of Embezzling Thousands from St. Joseph Church in Missouri
FROM StJoeChannel.com -
A business manager is accused of stealing more than $30,000 from a St. Joseph church.
Police arrested Pamela A. West, 49, Monday after receiving an embezzlement report from Wyatt Park Christian Church earlier this month.
West, a former business manager for the church, is now charged with felony stealing.
According to court documents, West used Wyatt Park's checking account and credit cards to pay her bills and make purchases.
The prosecutor's office alleges West forged another woman's name on checks from the church's account to pay her monthly rent, totaling $6,800 from Sept. 2011 to June 2012.
West is also accused of writing payroll checks to herself worth nearly $20,000.
Police said an anonymous tip helped uncover the mismanagement of funds.
Det. Richard Shelton said after the church learned of the allegations, they reviewed the books and noticed how much money was missing.
He said the church is still reviewing the funds.
West is being held at the Buchanan County jail on a $15,000 bond.
A business manager is accused of stealing more than $30,000 from a St. Joseph church.
Police arrested Pamela A. West, 49, Monday after receiving an embezzlement report from Wyatt Park Christian Church earlier this month.
West, a former business manager for the church, is now charged with felony stealing.
According to court documents, West used Wyatt Park's checking account and credit cards to pay her bills and make purchases.
The prosecutor's office alleges West forged another woman's name on checks from the church's account to pay her monthly rent, totaling $6,800 from Sept. 2011 to June 2012.
West is also accused of writing payroll checks to herself worth nearly $20,000.
Police said an anonymous tip helped uncover the mismanagement of funds.
Det. Richard Shelton said after the church learned of the allegations, they reviewed the books and noticed how much money was missing.
He said the church is still reviewing the funds.
West is being held at the Buchanan County jail on a $15,000 bond.
Friday, November 25, 2011
In crisis, National City Christian Church’s members find strength in Washington D.C.
From Washingtonpost.com
The Rev. Stephen Gentle stood at the pulpit of his historic District church Sunday and urged his congregation to give thanks — for the good and the bad. “We have had to learn to give thanks and praise to God,” Gentle said, “as we have been meeting one challenge after another, after another.”
To Gentle and others at National City Christian Church, the past few years have been a never-ending crisis. Like many downtown churches, it has seen its membership and fundraising dwindle. The church was rocked by a former pastor’s plagiarism in 2003. Then, August’s earthquake caused tens of thousands of dollars in unsightly damage that the church cannot afford to repair.
Worst of all, the congregation’s leaders have had to spend the past three years unwinding an $850,000 embezzlement scam that drained National City’s budget and forced the church to cut back on its ministry and staff.
Some members left the congregation, and others spoke of closing the church’s doors. But a core group refused to quit. Whether it was fixing choir chairs, answering phones, cleaning the sanctuary or pulling weeds and planting flowers on church grounds, dozens of congregants banded together. In some ways, the fallout from the scam has made National City stronger.
“These last few years have been extremely difficult,” Gentle said. “But we have seen the congregation come together like we have not seen in a long, long time.”
National City, the nearly 170-year-old flagship congregation of the 660,000-member Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), routinely drew 800 people to worship on Sundays in the 1950s and 1960s. President James A. Garfield preached from its pulpit, and President Lyndon B. Johnson regularly attended services.But at a recent Sunday service at the majestic church on Thomas Circle, about 125 worshipers, many of them retirees, sat scattered among 62 pews.
The scam only exacerbated National City’s problems. It came just a few years after the congregation was embarrassed by news that its pastor, the Rev. Alvin O’Neil Jackson, had plagiarized sermons delivered by another minister. Jackson left the church and was replaced in early 2006 by Gentle, a soft-spoken pastor of a Florida church. Gentle’s mission, as many members saw it, was to help heal the reeling church.
For a few years, Gentle made progress. But the church was tested again in 2008, when its leaders found discrepancies in financial records. At first, they thought their chief financial officer, Jason T. Reynolds, was simply a bad bookkeeper. Then they realized Reynolds had stolen about $850,000 in church money to buy cars, flat-screen TVs and jewels.
At one point, Reynolds gave Gentle and his sixth-grade son two tickets to a Washington Wizards game. Gentle realized later that Reynolds’s tickets had been financed by his church.
“I was literally sick to my stomach when I realized that,” said Gentle, 51, who would testify at Reynolds’s trial. In August, Reynolds was convicted of 12 fraud-related charges, and Gentle wrote a letter to the federal judge on the eve of sentencing that described the “pain, distrust and financial hardship” that had been inflicted on his church. On Nov. 9, Reynolds was sentenced to more than eight years in prison.
The scheme, which ran from 2002 through 2008, clobbered the church’s finances. Reynolds had covered up his theft by shifting money from one account to another but had left many invoices unpaid. The church was forced to dip into its endowment to pay a $40,000 electric bill or face darkness. It had to cut back on its ministry, including slashing a popular summer-enrichment program for kids. Gentle and church leaders cut the institution’s $2.4 million budget in half. One-third of its 21 workers were laid off.
The church’s endowment, also battered by a bad economy, fell from $8.4 million in 2007 to its current level of $4.8 million.
At meetings, members vented about their next steps, even wondering whether they should shutter the congregation. In the end, members and Gentle say, their choice was obvious: They would not surrender to a crime.
“We felt very strongly that as a church of God, how dare we even think about closing the doors?” said Loretta Tate, the congregation’s lay leader.
Soon after learning that her church was in financial trouble, Kathleen Swihart, a staffer who had looked after elderly and sick parishioners for more than 20 years, approached Gentle — and laid herself off because she knew the church was going to be strapped for money. The same afternoon, the 78-year-old started volunteering, continuing to help the elderly while also taking shifts at the church’s front desk, which is now staffed by a rotating squad of congregants.
Barbara Collins, a retired teacher and longtime church member, began recruiting volunteers. They spent months reupholstering dozens of church chairs. They published the weekly bulletin and monthly newsletter. When the cleaning and grounds crews were eliminated, volunteers began scrubbing the church and cutting grass. Over two summer Saturdays, they planted dozens of impatiens and mums to form a cross on the front lawn.
The food pantry, which serves the area’s poor, had once been overseen by staffers. Like so many other duties, it soon was taken over by volunteers. To thank the pantry’s unpaid workers, another crew recently remodeled the drab windowless space, with its stained walls and leaky pipe, leaving it clean and brightly painted.
On Monday, four volunteers were expected to help decorate the sanctuary for Christmas; 18 turned up. “It just warms your heart,” said Collins, choking up as she watched congregants fluff artificial Christmas tree limbs and place red and white poinsettias in the choir loft.
Off to the side was Gentle, who stopped by to check on the volunteers’ progress. A day earlier, he had spoken from the pulpit about faith, hope, betrayal by a trusted employee and giving thanks “even in times of hardship like the embezzlement and theft.”
As he watched the volunteers scurry about, the pastor said nothing.
He just smiled.
The Rev. Stephen Gentle stood at the pulpit of his historic District church Sunday and urged his congregation to give thanks — for the good and the bad. “We have had to learn to give thanks and praise to God,” Gentle said, “as we have been meeting one challenge after another, after another.”
To Gentle and others at National City Christian Church, the past few years have been a never-ending crisis. Like many downtown churches, it has seen its membership and fundraising dwindle. The church was rocked by a former pastor’s plagiarism in 2003. Then, August’s earthquake caused tens of thousands of dollars in unsightly damage that the church cannot afford to repair.
Worst of all, the congregation’s leaders have had to spend the past three years unwinding an $850,000 embezzlement scam that drained National City’s budget and forced the church to cut back on its ministry and staff.
Some members left the congregation, and others spoke of closing the church’s doors. But a core group refused to quit. Whether it was fixing choir chairs, answering phones, cleaning the sanctuary or pulling weeds and planting flowers on church grounds, dozens of congregants banded together. In some ways, the fallout from the scam has made National City stronger.
“These last few years have been extremely difficult,” Gentle said. “But we have seen the congregation come together like we have not seen in a long, long time.”
National City, the nearly 170-year-old flagship congregation of the 660,000-member Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), routinely drew 800 people to worship on Sundays in the 1950s and 1960s. President James A. Garfield preached from its pulpit, and President Lyndon B. Johnson regularly attended services.But at a recent Sunday service at the majestic church on Thomas Circle, about 125 worshipers, many of them retirees, sat scattered among 62 pews.
The scam only exacerbated National City’s problems. It came just a few years after the congregation was embarrassed by news that its pastor, the Rev. Alvin O’Neil Jackson, had plagiarized sermons delivered by another minister. Jackson left the church and was replaced in early 2006 by Gentle, a soft-spoken pastor of a Florida church. Gentle’s mission, as many members saw it, was to help heal the reeling church.
For a few years, Gentle made progress. But the church was tested again in 2008, when its leaders found discrepancies in financial records. At first, they thought their chief financial officer, Jason T. Reynolds, was simply a bad bookkeeper. Then they realized Reynolds had stolen about $850,000 in church money to buy cars, flat-screen TVs and jewels.
At one point, Reynolds gave Gentle and his sixth-grade son two tickets to a Washington Wizards game. Gentle realized later that Reynolds’s tickets had been financed by his church.
“I was literally sick to my stomach when I realized that,” said Gentle, 51, who would testify at Reynolds’s trial. In August, Reynolds was convicted of 12 fraud-related charges, and Gentle wrote a letter to the federal judge on the eve of sentencing that described the “pain, distrust and financial hardship” that had been inflicted on his church. On Nov. 9, Reynolds was sentenced to more than eight years in prison.
The scheme, which ran from 2002 through 2008, clobbered the church’s finances. Reynolds had covered up his theft by shifting money from one account to another but had left many invoices unpaid. The church was forced to dip into its endowment to pay a $40,000 electric bill or face darkness. It had to cut back on its ministry, including slashing a popular summer-enrichment program for kids. Gentle and church leaders cut the institution’s $2.4 million budget in half. One-third of its 21 workers were laid off.
The church’s endowment, also battered by a bad economy, fell from $8.4 million in 2007 to its current level of $4.8 million.
At meetings, members vented about their next steps, even wondering whether they should shutter the congregation. In the end, members and Gentle say, their choice was obvious: They would not surrender to a crime.
“We felt very strongly that as a church of God, how dare we even think about closing the doors?” said Loretta Tate, the congregation’s lay leader.
Soon after learning that her church was in financial trouble, Kathleen Swihart, a staffer who had looked after elderly and sick parishioners for more than 20 years, approached Gentle — and laid herself off because she knew the church was going to be strapped for money. The same afternoon, the 78-year-old started volunteering, continuing to help the elderly while also taking shifts at the church’s front desk, which is now staffed by a rotating squad of congregants.
Barbara Collins, a retired teacher and longtime church member, began recruiting volunteers. They spent months reupholstering dozens of church chairs. They published the weekly bulletin and monthly newsletter. When the cleaning and grounds crews were eliminated, volunteers began scrubbing the church and cutting grass. Over two summer Saturdays, they planted dozens of impatiens and mums to form a cross on the front lawn.
The food pantry, which serves the area’s poor, had once been overseen by staffers. Like so many other duties, it soon was taken over by volunteers. To thank the pantry’s unpaid workers, another crew recently remodeled the drab windowless space, with its stained walls and leaky pipe, leaving it clean and brightly painted.
On Monday, four volunteers were expected to help decorate the sanctuary for Christmas; 18 turned up. “It just warms your heart,” said Collins, choking up as she watched congregants fluff artificial Christmas tree limbs and place red and white poinsettias in the choir loft.
Off to the side was Gentle, who stopped by to check on the volunteers’ progress. A day earlier, he had spoken from the pulpit about faith, hope, betrayal by a trusted employee and giving thanks “even in times of hardship like the embezzlement and theft.”
As he watched the volunteers scurry about, the pastor said nothing.
He just smiled.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Former Oakland church treasurer ordered to repay almost $400,000 in California
FROM http://www.mercurynews.com/-
A former treasurer of an Oakland church who stole more than $400,000 from parish coffers was sentenced to a year of electronic monitoring Friday and ordered to repay most of the money taken from the St. Vartan Armenian Apostolic Church.
In a plea deal with the Alameda County District Attorney's Office, which appeared to frustrate several church members, Gary Alexanian, 47, was found guilty of grand theft instead of the more serious embezzlement crime he was originally charged with.
In addition, Alexanian agreed to repay the money he stole, submit to a year of electronic monitoring and serve five years probation.
Parish members declined to comment after the sentencing Friday but in a letter to the probation department, the parish council said Alexanian deserved prison time for stealing.
"A crime of this size cannot be rewarded with simply a probationary scolding," the letter stated. "The criminal activity perpetrated by Mr. Alexanian has shaken the Church to its core, profoundly impacting the parish community."
Alexanian, who was baptized at the church, had stolen the money during his more than decade long tenure as the parish's treasurer. The money was gathered, church members have said, through bake sales and other yearly fundraising events.
In the letter to the probation department, the parish council said they erred in putting full trust in Alexanian who they said began stealing within the first 45 days he was appointed treasurer.
Michael Cardoza, Alexanian's defense attorney, said his client is sorry for his actions and began to steal because of financial pressures in his life.
In a letter to the court, Alexanian said he was ashamed and said his actions have led to a crumbling of his life, which includes a pending divorce demanded by his wife and ostracization from the Bay Area Armenian community.
"Because of my actions, my wife has moved for a legal separation, we are losing the house and I have personally lost some of my family members, and all of my friends," Alexanian wrote. "I acknowledge that it was selfish, stupid, and before long, things just got out of control."
Cardoza said his client hopes the church members will eventually be able to forgive him.
"What was most shocking to me is the first issue was repayment of money. Not one member of the church ever asked him how he was doing," Cardoza said. "We hope that the church, in their hearts, can forgive him."
A former treasurer of an Oakland church who stole more than $400,000 from parish coffers was sentenced to a year of electronic monitoring Friday and ordered to repay most of the money taken from the St. Vartan Armenian Apostolic Church.
In a plea deal with the Alameda County District Attorney's Office, which appeared to frustrate several church members, Gary Alexanian, 47, was found guilty of grand theft instead of the more serious embezzlement crime he was originally charged with.
In addition, Alexanian agreed to repay the money he stole, submit to a year of electronic monitoring and serve five years probation.
Parish members declined to comment after the sentencing Friday but in a letter to the probation department, the parish council said Alexanian deserved prison time for stealing.
"A crime of this size cannot be rewarded with simply a probationary scolding," the letter stated. "The criminal activity perpetrated by Mr. Alexanian has shaken the Church to its core, profoundly impacting the parish community."
Alexanian, who was baptized at the church, had stolen the money during his more than decade long tenure as the parish's treasurer. The money was gathered, church members have said, through bake sales and other yearly fundraising events.
In the letter to the probation department, the parish council said they erred in putting full trust in Alexanian who they said began stealing within the first 45 days he was appointed treasurer.
Michael Cardoza, Alexanian's defense attorney, said his client is sorry for his actions and began to steal because of financial pressures in his life.
In a letter to the court, Alexanian said he was ashamed and said his actions have led to a crumbling of his life, which includes a pending divorce demanded by his wife and ostracization from the Bay Area Armenian community.
"Because of my actions, my wife has moved for a legal separation, we are losing the house and I have personally lost some of my family members, and all of my friends," Alexanian wrote. "I acknowledge that it was selfish, stupid, and before long, things just got out of control."
Cardoza said his client hopes the church members will eventually be able to forgive him.
"What was most shocking to me is the first issue was repayment of money. Not one member of the church ever asked him how he was doing," Cardoza said. "We hope that the church, in their hearts, can forgive him."
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