Pastor Josh Roberts of Connect Rome City Church told Rome police that a former employee allegedly took thousands of dollars of the church’s money and put it into his own account, reports stated. According to a Rome Police Department report:
The church discovered between $20,000 and $30,000 was taken in a five-and-a-half month period after the employee opened a separate nonprofit account and began putting church funds into that account. Roberts told police church leaders learned the employee, who has yet to be charged, also tried to claim that an older laptop was damaged during a church trip and was looking for insurance to pay for it. Rome police officer Michelle Sims said Wednesday the investigation is ongoing.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Frankfort, Kentucky woman pleads not guilty to embezzling $40,000 from day care center
A Frankfort woman pleaded not guilty Wednesday to embezzling $40,000 from a non-profit child care organization in Lexington for which she worked.Mary Tincher, 39, is charged with felony theft by deception of an amount more than $10,000. Tincher is accused of electronically transferring funds to her private bank account from Child Development Centers of the Bluegrass over seven months. Child Development Centers, 465 Springhill Drive, provides speech, occupational and physical therapy to children with disabilities. The organization also runs a day care program for children with and without special needs.Tincher was hired as a financial employee in August. She declined comment after Wednesday's arraignment.Tincher is scheduled to return to Fayette District Court on July 22 for a preliminary hearing. She was released from the Fayette County jail after posting 10 percent of a $5,000 bond.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Minneapolis man pleads guilty to school embezzlement
An ex-Minneapolis charter school director who formerly lived in Shakopee pleaded guilty Wednesday to embezzling more than $1 million from the American Indian school, according to the Associated Press. Joel Pourier, whose half-million dollar Shakopee home was foreclosed on and sold last year, pleaded guilty to eight felony counts of theft by swindle.
Pourier was accused of writing fraudulent checks and transferring money to bank accounts he controlled. According to the criminal complaint, he spent money from Oh Day Aki/Heart of the Earth school on houses, cars and at strip clubs, while students went without textbooks, supplies and field trips. The
school's charter was eventually revoked.
Pourier, 39, apparently made up his educational credentials and had falsely claimed he was independently wealthy and a member of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community.
Pourier and his wife Christine used to rent out a home she owned in Prior Lake. The tenant there in 2008 was told to move out. The property is still listed under Christine's name.
Pourier was accused of writing fraudulent checks and transferring money to bank accounts he controlled. According to the criminal complaint, he spent money from Oh Day Aki/Heart of the Earth school on houses, cars and at strip clubs, while students went without textbooks, supplies and field trips. The
school's charter was eventually revoked.
Pourier, 39, apparently made up his educational credentials and had falsely claimed he was independently wealthy and a member of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community.
Pourier and his wife Christine used to rent out a home she owned in Prior Lake. The tenant there in 2008 was told to move out. The property is still listed under Christine's name.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Former Virginia day-care employee indicted on embezzlement charges
A former employee of a Fluvanna County day-care center has been arrested after being indicted on 19 counts of embezzlement and two counts of money laundering, according to a Virginia State Police spokeswoman. Tracy Lin Shifflett was charged after a joint investigation by the Fluvanna Sheriff's Office and the state police into the finances of ABC Preschool in Palmyra, spokeswoman Corinne Geller said. Shifflett was arrested Tuesday, Geller said.
According to court documents, officials found receipts for nonbusiness expenses, including porch screening and cigarettes.
In 2007 and 2008, the business averaged cash receipts of about $3,700 each month, according to an affidavit requesting a search warrant.
In 2007, the business deposited an average of $968, and for 2008 the figure was $1,336, according to the affidavit.
Court documents reveal that police are also investigating whether there is any connection between Shifflett and financial problems at Wesley Community Child Care Center in Charlottesville, which closed this year as it was facing a tax lien.
"In a similar but separate case involving Tracy Lin Shifflett and ABC Preschool of Palmyra, Virginia, sizable cash deposits were made into her University of Virginia Community Credit Unit and BB&T bank accounts, likely from ABC Preschool funds," state police special agent accountant William W. Talbert wrote in an affidavit asking for permission to search Shifflett's bank records.
Geller said the investigation into the Wesley problems is still open and that the two investigations are being conducted independently.
At Wesley, police found nearly 40 unauthorized ATM withdrawals and business deposits that came up short when compared with receipts.
Police have been examining bank records for months in the case. Shifflett was the director of each preschool when the financial problems occurred, according to affidavits.
According to court documents, officials found receipts for nonbusiness expenses, including porch screening and cigarettes.
In 2007 and 2008, the business averaged cash receipts of about $3,700 each month, according to an affidavit requesting a search warrant.
In 2007, the business deposited an average of $968, and for 2008 the figure was $1,336, according to the affidavit.
Court documents reveal that police are also investigating whether there is any connection between Shifflett and financial problems at Wesley Community Child Care Center in Charlottesville, which closed this year as it was facing a tax lien.
"In a similar but separate case involving Tracy Lin Shifflett and ABC Preschool of Palmyra, Virginia, sizable cash deposits were made into her University of Virginia Community Credit Unit and BB&T bank accounts, likely from ABC Preschool funds," state police special agent accountant William W. Talbert wrote in an affidavit asking for permission to search Shifflett's bank records.
Geller said the investigation into the Wesley problems is still open and that the two investigations are being conducted independently.
At Wesley, police found nearly 40 unauthorized ATM withdrawals and business deposits that came up short when compared with receipts.
Police have been examining bank records for months in the case. Shifflett was the director of each preschool when the financial problems occurred, according to affidavits.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Virginia Church treasurer charged with embezzlement
The former treasurer of Bradley Street Baptist Church in Bristol, Va., was charged last month with embezzlement, accused of writing checks to himself worth $14,000 from the church’s bank account.
Randall C. Sargent Jr., 53, of Droke Lane in Blountville, Tenn., was charged with four counts of embezzlement, an unclassified felony akin to grand larceny.
Bristol Virginia Police Sgt. Steve Crawford said Sargent was the unpaid treasurer of the church for more than a decade. The current charges date to April 2008, according to court records, though Crawford said additional charges are pending, some for thefts dating back five years. Police are still waiting for subpoenaed credit card and banking records from Bank of America and Crawford estimated the final total could be as much as $30,000.
Sargent did not return a message left at his home Friday.
In March, a member of the church’s board of directors went to police after noticing some irregularities in the banking records. Sargent was the authorized signer on the church’s checking account and exclusively responsible for counting the money and paying the bills.
In April 2008, according to criminal complaints, Sargent issued himself a $3,000 check from the church’s bank account and cashed it at Carter Bank & Trust in Bristol, Va. Then in September 2008, Sargent wrote check number 5384 for $3,500, issued to cash, and cashed it at Blue Ridge Bank & Trust in Bristol, Va., according to the complaints.
In March 2010, Sargent wrote check number 5631 for $6,000, made out to himself and cashed at Carter Bank & Trust in Bristol, Va., court records stated. The next month, he wrote check number 5638 for $1,500, issued to himself and again cashed at Carter Bank & Trust.
Crawford said the leadership of the church is currently unclear. The board of directors disbanded and the pastor resigned, in part over the embezzlement investigation. No one returned a series of messages left on the church’s machine over several weeks.
Crawford called it a mid-sized congregation, though he was not sure exactly how big. The church’s funding comes exclusively from its congregation’s tithes and offerings.
At the time of his arrest, Sargent was an accountant with Charles Bridwell CPA and Associates in Gate City, Va. The company did not return a Friday call seeking comment.
There is no set sentencing parameters for unclassified felonies.
Sargent was released from the Bristol Virginia Jail on a $3,500 secured bond and is scheduled to appear in General District Court at 9 a.m. July 22.
Randall C. Sargent Jr., 53, of Droke Lane in Blountville, Tenn., was charged with four counts of embezzlement, an unclassified felony akin to grand larceny.
Bristol Virginia Police Sgt. Steve Crawford said Sargent was the unpaid treasurer of the church for more than a decade. The current charges date to April 2008, according to court records, though Crawford said additional charges are pending, some for thefts dating back five years. Police are still waiting for subpoenaed credit card and banking records from Bank of America and Crawford estimated the final total could be as much as $30,000.
Sargent did not return a message left at his home Friday.
In March, a member of the church’s board of directors went to police after noticing some irregularities in the banking records. Sargent was the authorized signer on the church’s checking account and exclusively responsible for counting the money and paying the bills.
In April 2008, according to criminal complaints, Sargent issued himself a $3,000 check from the church’s bank account and cashed it at Carter Bank & Trust in Bristol, Va. Then in September 2008, Sargent wrote check number 5384 for $3,500, issued to cash, and cashed it at Blue Ridge Bank & Trust in Bristol, Va., according to the complaints.
In March 2010, Sargent wrote check number 5631 for $6,000, made out to himself and cashed at Carter Bank & Trust in Bristol, Va., court records stated. The next month, he wrote check number 5638 for $1,500, issued to himself and again cashed at Carter Bank & Trust.
Crawford said the leadership of the church is currently unclear. The board of directors disbanded and the pastor resigned, in part over the embezzlement investigation. No one returned a series of messages left on the church’s machine over several weeks.
Crawford called it a mid-sized congregation, though he was not sure exactly how big. The church’s funding comes exclusively from its congregation’s tithes and offerings.
At the time of his arrest, Sargent was an accountant with Charles Bridwell CPA and Associates in Gate City, Va. The company did not return a Friday call seeking comment.
There is no set sentencing parameters for unclassified felonies.
Sargent was released from the Bristol Virginia Jail on a $3,500 secured bond and is scheduled to appear in General District Court at 9 a.m. July 22.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Woman accused of embezzling from Okeene, Oklahoma church
Blaine County prosecutors have accused a former church treasurer of taking more than $176,000 from an Okeene church.Forty-eight-year-old Okeene resident Christine Mae Lorenz has been charged with two counts of embezzlement by employee. Lorenz posted a $2,000 cash bond and faces an Aug. 13 court appearance.
Authorities allege Lorenz took $127,748 between Feb. 1, 2005, and May 19, 2009, from one of the First Baptist Church of Okeene accounts, and $48,895 from another account during roughly the same period.
Lorenz's attorney, listed in court records as Matthew R. Oppel, wasn't immediately available for comment Wednesday
Authorities allege Lorenz took $127,748 between Feb. 1, 2005, and May 19, 2009, from one of the First Baptist Church of Okeene accounts, and $48,895 from another account during roughly the same period.
Lorenz's attorney, listed in court records as Matthew R. Oppel, wasn't immediately available for comment Wednesday
Woman Accused of Embezzling $186,000 from North Carolina Church
An employee at a Thomasville church is accused of embezzling $186,000. Kathy Koonts Sechriest, born on Christmas Day in 1956, is charged with embezzling money from Zion United Church of Christ in Thomasville. Sechreist worked as a secretary at the church and lives nearby with her husband.
Sechriest turned herself in to detectives on Wednesday. She faces charges of embezzlement of greater than $100,000, a felony. Arrest warrants show Sechriest is believed to have embezzled the money over the past five years.
No one answered at Sechriest's house when FOX8 went to ask for her side of the story, and many friends said they didn't know she had been arrested. Family members who did not want to speak on camera told FOX8 that they were the last to know that she was arrested.
Some church members who did not want to be identified said they questioned why Sechriest worked late at night at the church and why she suddenly had extensive landscaping in her yard. The pastor at Zion United Church of Christ did not return calls for comment.
Sechriest was released on $100,000 bond, which records show she paid in cash. The judge also ordered Sechriest not to harass, assault or threaten any members of the church. Her court date is set for July 21.
Sechriest turned herself in to detectives on Wednesday. She faces charges of embezzlement of greater than $100,000, a felony. Arrest warrants show Sechriest is believed to have embezzled the money over the past five years.
No one answered at Sechriest's house when FOX8 went to ask for her side of the story, and many friends said they didn't know she had been arrested. Family members who did not want to speak on camera told FOX8 that they were the last to know that she was arrested.
Some church members who did not want to be identified said they questioned why Sechriest worked late at night at the church and why she suddenly had extensive landscaping in her yard. The pastor at Zion United Church of Christ did not return calls for comment.
Sechriest was released on $100,000 bond, which records show she paid in cash. The judge also ordered Sechriest not to harass, assault or threaten any members of the church. Her court date is set for July 21.
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