Visalia police are seeking help from the public in the case of a church accounting manager who is accused of embezzling more than $2 million from Visalia First Assembly of God church.
Since arresting Sandra Arreola, 51, in mid-December, Visalia police have been contacted by at least two people who said they had financial dealings with Arreola, Sgt. Gary Williams said.
One person said Arreola paid cash to buy some property, Williams said. Both witnesses said they were unaware that Arreola was connected with the church until they learned in news reports that she had been arrested, he said.
Anyone with additional information about Arreola related to the case is asked to call detective Kevin Kroeze at (559) 713-4574.
Arreola, who turned herself in on Dec. 16, is being held on $1 million bail.
Read more: http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/01/10/2227350/visalia-police-seek-witnesses.html#ixzz1Ak8fSJzg
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Sunday, January 9, 2011
RIVERVIEW, Michigan: Police, school officials not talking about embezzlement
Office and school officials aren’t saying much about an alleged embezzlement involving a school club.
What’s known is that a member of the Riverview Community High School Football Booster Club is under suspicion of stealing an undisclosed amount of money.
School Supt. Dennis Desmarais said no other club or school organization is under scrutiny.
“We are dealing with an embezzlement case with the football boosters,” he said. “It’s hard to say how much. That’s being taken to the (Wayne County) Prosecutor’s Office right now. They have to look at it.”
Deputy Police Chief Clifford Rosebohm said police submitted a warrant request to the prosecutor’s office Tuesday.
“(Information) can’t be disclosed right now because it is an active investigation,” he said. “It’s at the prosecutor’s office, and they will provide a thorough investigation of what the Police Department has put forward.”
Although Rosebohm would not give a dollar amount, he said the alleged embezzlement took place during the 2010 football season.
The most recent case of embezzlement in the school district that was taken to police, and eventually to the court system, involved former high school Assistant Principal Lisa Zoltowski, who resigned in July 2009 after the district discovered missing funds.
Zoltowski was charged with one count of embezzlement by an agent of an amount more than $1,000 but less than $20,000.
According to district records, slightly more than $7,000 was taken during the 2005-06 and 2006-07 school years from athletic pass and student parking pass accounts.
Zoltowski was accepted into the court’s diversion program for first-time, nonviolent offenders, which allowed her to avoid jail time, but required full restitution, community service and other conditions.
Some school district insiders have told The News-Herald Newspapers that the incident involving the Football Booster Club is not the only one of its kind in recent years.
Desmarais said, however, that there is no truth to rumors of other incidents during his four years as superintendent.
“We have had some situations with minor amounts of (missing) money that we have dealt with, but nothing comparable to Zoltowski or comparable to this,” he said.
Rosebohm said the officer who initially looked into the allegation turned it over to the detective bureau after determining it required further investigation.
The police investigation took about a month, and Rosebohm said he expects the prosecutor’s office to take about the same amount of time.
Prosecutor’s office spokeswoman Maria Miller would confirm only that a warrant request regarding the embezzlement case is being reviewed.
She said it mostly likely would take about three weeks for a decision.
Rosebohm and Desmarais emphasized that only one person is under suspicion, so this is not being viewed as a larger-scale problem within the Football Booster Club.
What’s known is that a member of the Riverview Community High School Football Booster Club is under suspicion of stealing an undisclosed amount of money.
School Supt. Dennis Desmarais said no other club or school organization is under scrutiny.
“We are dealing with an embezzlement case with the football boosters,” he said. “It’s hard to say how much. That’s being taken to the (Wayne County) Prosecutor’s Office right now. They have to look at it.”
Deputy Police Chief Clifford Rosebohm said police submitted a warrant request to the prosecutor’s office Tuesday.
“(Information) can’t be disclosed right now because it is an active investigation,” he said. “It’s at the prosecutor’s office, and they will provide a thorough investigation of what the Police Department has put forward.”
Although Rosebohm would not give a dollar amount, he said the alleged embezzlement took place during the 2010 football season.
The most recent case of embezzlement in the school district that was taken to police, and eventually to the court system, involved former high school Assistant Principal Lisa Zoltowski, who resigned in July 2009 after the district discovered missing funds.
Zoltowski was charged with one count of embezzlement by an agent of an amount more than $1,000 but less than $20,000.
According to district records, slightly more than $7,000 was taken during the 2005-06 and 2006-07 school years from athletic pass and student parking pass accounts.
Zoltowski was accepted into the court’s diversion program for first-time, nonviolent offenders, which allowed her to avoid jail time, but required full restitution, community service and other conditions.
Some school district insiders have told The News-Herald Newspapers that the incident involving the Football Booster Club is not the only one of its kind in recent years.
Desmarais said, however, that there is no truth to rumors of other incidents during his four years as superintendent.
“We have had some situations with minor amounts of (missing) money that we have dealt with, but nothing comparable to Zoltowski or comparable to this,” he said.
Rosebohm said the officer who initially looked into the allegation turned it over to the detective bureau after determining it required further investigation.
The police investigation took about a month, and Rosebohm said he expects the prosecutor’s office to take about the same amount of time.
Prosecutor’s office spokeswoman Maria Miller would confirm only that a warrant request regarding the embezzlement case is being reviewed.
She said it mostly likely would take about three weeks for a decision.
Rosebohm and Desmarais emphasized that only one person is under suspicion, so this is not being viewed as a larger-scale problem within the Football Booster Club.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
No jail time for school official who embezzled taxpayer money in Colorado
Steve Atwood was an Adams 12 Five Star Schools success story: the local boy, a star athlete who returned to his hometown as a teacher and athletic director. But he was also robbing the school district blind.
The exact amount Atwood stole isn't known and probably never will be known. The best estimate is at least $190,000, money stolen from student funds, gate receipts from athletic events and taxpayer money.
On Thursday, Atwood stood in a courtroom with two other men who grew up in the Thornton area and went through the school system: Adams 12 superintendent Chris Gdowski and Adams County District Court Judge Chris Melonakis.
"It's terribly sad, Mr. Atwood, to see someone who has come as far as you have to disgrace yourself," Melonakis said. "It's a terrible failure on your part."
Prosecutors requested jail time for the felony embezzlement charge Atwood pled guilty to earlier this year.
Melonakis instead chose seven years of probation and 90 days of work release for Atwood, but not until after he castigated him for failing to be a good role model.
Melonakis said he would set aside his own personal feelings of disappointment to reach the sentence, yet he pointed to himself and Superintendent Gdowski as products of the school district living up to their responsibility to be role models.
"We owe it to them to do something more than what you've done in this case," Melonakis told Atwood.
"Many of us have overcome really tough circumstances and now see ourselves as important role models in the district and Steve's compromised that," Gdowski said.
Atwood has paid $20,000 restitution and may be ordered to pay more after an upcoming restitution hearing.
"I can't express how sorry I am for the selfish behavior I exhibited in the past," Atwood told the court.
Leaving court, Atwood and his attorney declined to comment further.
Gdowski said Atwood's actions had done "substantial damage" to the community's trust in Adams 12, a breach he said will take "a very, very long time to redeem and rebuild."
The superintendent outlined what that means in practical terms.
"You'll hear from comments from kids as they go door to door fundraising, saying, hey can you please buy some cookies or some pretzels because our athletic director stole a bunch of money from the district. We get e-mails and phone calls from people saying we dont know if we want to do a fundraiser, do we really trust that the money is going to go to the kids? Those kind of comments come in fairly often," Gdowski said.
"We're going to work very hard to rebuild the public trust in our district," Gdoswki said.
Atwood, 40, spent 18 years working for his alma mater, including five years as athletic director.
In that position, prosecutors said, Atwood enriched himself by pocketing revenues from ticket sales and concessions.
The thefts were discovered when Adams 12 brought on an internal auditor. Atwood resigned in 2009 when confronted about the missing money.
The school's internal audit found suspiciously low attendance numbers and subsequently, less revenue from sporting events. The audit only examined financial figures from the 2008-2009 school year.
That year, Atwood reported 481 paid admissions for a Legacy High School football game against Poudre High School, according to court documents. That raised red flags because a similar game drew 2,117 paid admissions.
Court documents outlined a string of brazen theft techniques by Atwood, including removing the large bills from concession stand cash registers claiming it was being done for security purposes.
Prosecutors were told by Atwood's ex-wife that she once found $10,000 of school money in a bag stuffed between a cabinet and a wall. She invited investigators to visit Atwood's home, claiming they would find a flat-screen TV that should have been installed at the Adams 12 sports stadium.
As a condition of his plea deal, Atwood can never again work for a public school.
The exact amount Atwood stole isn't known and probably never will be known. The best estimate is at least $190,000, money stolen from student funds, gate receipts from athletic events and taxpayer money.
On Thursday, Atwood stood in a courtroom with two other men who grew up in the Thornton area and went through the school system: Adams 12 superintendent Chris Gdowski and Adams County District Court Judge Chris Melonakis.
"It's terribly sad, Mr. Atwood, to see someone who has come as far as you have to disgrace yourself," Melonakis said. "It's a terrible failure on your part."
Prosecutors requested jail time for the felony embezzlement charge Atwood pled guilty to earlier this year.
Melonakis instead chose seven years of probation and 90 days of work release for Atwood, but not until after he castigated him for failing to be a good role model.
Melonakis said he would set aside his own personal feelings of disappointment to reach the sentence, yet he pointed to himself and Superintendent Gdowski as products of the school district living up to their responsibility to be role models.
"We owe it to them to do something more than what you've done in this case," Melonakis told Atwood.
"Many of us have overcome really tough circumstances and now see ourselves as important role models in the district and Steve's compromised that," Gdowski said.
Atwood has paid $20,000 restitution and may be ordered to pay more after an upcoming restitution hearing.
"I can't express how sorry I am for the selfish behavior I exhibited in the past," Atwood told the court.
Leaving court, Atwood and his attorney declined to comment further.
Gdowski said Atwood's actions had done "substantial damage" to the community's trust in Adams 12, a breach he said will take "a very, very long time to redeem and rebuild."
The superintendent outlined what that means in practical terms.
"You'll hear from comments from kids as they go door to door fundraising, saying, hey can you please buy some cookies or some pretzels because our athletic director stole a bunch of money from the district. We get e-mails and phone calls from people saying we dont know if we want to do a fundraiser, do we really trust that the money is going to go to the kids? Those kind of comments come in fairly often," Gdowski said.
"We're going to work very hard to rebuild the public trust in our district," Gdoswki said.
Atwood, 40, spent 18 years working for his alma mater, including five years as athletic director.
In that position, prosecutors said, Atwood enriched himself by pocketing revenues from ticket sales and concessions.
The thefts were discovered when Adams 12 brought on an internal auditor. Atwood resigned in 2009 when confronted about the missing money.
The school's internal audit found suspiciously low attendance numbers and subsequently, less revenue from sporting events. The audit only examined financial figures from the 2008-2009 school year.
That year, Atwood reported 481 paid admissions for a Legacy High School football game against Poudre High School, according to court documents. That raised red flags because a similar game drew 2,117 paid admissions.
Court documents outlined a string of brazen theft techniques by Atwood, including removing the large bills from concession stand cash registers claiming it was being done for security purposes.
Prosecutors were told by Atwood's ex-wife that she once found $10,000 of school money in a bag stuffed between a cabinet and a wall. She invited investigators to visit Atwood's home, claiming they would find a flat-screen TV that should have been installed at the Adams 12 sports stadium.
As a condition of his plea deal, Atwood can never again work for a public school.
Former school secretary faces embezzlement charges in Stevens Point, Wisconsin
A former secretary has been accused of embezzling more than $15,000 from a Stevens Point elementary school's coffers between March 2008 and Jan. 31, 2010. She's also suspected of taking more than $5,000 from a high school dance team between February 2006 and March 2007.
Sandy L. Schlicher, 47, of Plover, has been charged with two counts of felony theft. She is scheduled to make an initial appearance Jan. 24 in Portage County Circuit Court.
According to a criminal complaint filed Dec. 28, the first count stems from missing money from Washington Elementary School. School officials contacted Stevens Point police about possible embezzlement at the elementary school Feb. 5 after several instances in which money entrusted to Schlicher for deposit either had never been deposited in the school's bank account or had been deposited in different amounts or forms.
The complaint states officials contacted police after they learned that $600 raised for Haitian refugees during a school bake sale had not been deposited at the bank. When officials asked Schlicher if she had made the deposit she could not provide a bank receipt, the complaint states.
After analyzing school financial records from 2008 to 2010, school personnel reportedly found several other instances in which deposit vouchers had been filed with Schlicher in the office but had not been made at the bank, the complaint states. There also were late deposits, and deposits that had been changed from cash to checks. A total cash shortage of more than $15,750 eventually was found.
When officers searched Schlicher's residence Feb. 16, they reportedly found two deposit slips for Portage County Bank, a pile of shredded paper similar to the kind used by the school for deposit vouchers, numerous checks for Washington School and several deposit slips. A bag containing 43 personal checks and five deposit slips also was found, along with an October 2009 deposit voucher from the school consisting of $103.20 in cash and coins.
The second count of the complaint charges that Schlicher embezzled more than $5,000 from the Stevens Point Area Senior High Pom and Dance team between February 2006 and March 2007, when she was the organization's treasurer.
Contacted about the embezzlement by the current treasurer of the SPASH Pom and Dance team in October of this year, police allegedly found that Schlicher had misappropriated funds from a formal dress sale fundraiser, and never paid bills for embroidery work or bus tickets.
Sandy L. Schlicher, 47, of Plover, has been charged with two counts of felony theft. She is scheduled to make an initial appearance Jan. 24 in Portage County Circuit Court.
According to a criminal complaint filed Dec. 28, the first count stems from missing money from Washington Elementary School. School officials contacted Stevens Point police about possible embezzlement at the elementary school Feb. 5 after several instances in which money entrusted to Schlicher for deposit either had never been deposited in the school's bank account or had been deposited in different amounts or forms.
The complaint states officials contacted police after they learned that $600 raised for Haitian refugees during a school bake sale had not been deposited at the bank. When officials asked Schlicher if she had made the deposit she could not provide a bank receipt, the complaint states.
After analyzing school financial records from 2008 to 2010, school personnel reportedly found several other instances in which deposit vouchers had been filed with Schlicher in the office but had not been made at the bank, the complaint states. There also were late deposits, and deposits that had been changed from cash to checks. A total cash shortage of more than $15,750 eventually was found.
When officers searched Schlicher's residence Feb. 16, they reportedly found two deposit slips for Portage County Bank, a pile of shredded paper similar to the kind used by the school for deposit vouchers, numerous checks for Washington School and several deposit slips. A bag containing 43 personal checks and five deposit slips also was found, along with an October 2009 deposit voucher from the school consisting of $103.20 in cash and coins.
The second count of the complaint charges that Schlicher embezzled more than $5,000 from the Stevens Point Area Senior High Pom and Dance team between February 2006 and March 2007, when she was the organization's treasurer.
Contacted about the embezzlement by the current treasurer of the SPASH Pom and Dance team in October of this year, police allegedly found that Schlicher had misappropriated funds from a formal dress sale fundraiser, and never paid bills for embroidery work or bus tickets.
Ex-soccer club official pleads guilty in Livonia, Michigan
The former co-treasurer of the Livonia City Soccer Club pled guilty Friday in Wayne County Circuit Court to one count of embezzlement over $20,000.
Brian Patrick Molloy of Farmington also paid $87,000 restitution to the court on Friday as part of the sentence agreement. That agreement included that $87,000, due by the sentencing date of Feb. 9, two years probation, and all other fines, conditions, costs and terms imposed by Circuit Judge James Chylinski at the sentencing.
Molloy, 40, was arraigned Oct. 4 on a charge he embezzled more than $100,000 from the soccer club,
Prosecutors confirmed the sentencing agreement was reached, but did not issue any statement or comment Friday.
Robert Morad, Molloy’s attorney, was reached Friday by telephone, but didn’t want to comment on the case until the sentencing.
Livonia police could not be reached for comment Friday.
The embezzlement was discovered when club officials found suspicious activity involving bank accounts, discovered as part of a routine examination of club bank statements.
Club officers contacted bank authorities, who in turn alerted their fraud prevention unit. At that time, club officials said they worked closely with police and fraud investigators and added safeguards to prevent “this type of regrettable incident from ever happening again.”
On Friday, LCSC spokesman Joe Bauman issued the following statement:
“The Livonia City Soccer Club is very pleased and relieved to have this most unfortunate chapter in our history behind us. We are very thankful to our attorney, Paul Bernier of the Flood Lanctot Connor & Stablein law firm, Independent Bank, the Livonia Police Department and the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office in bringing this matter to a successful conclusion.
“All along, our top priority has been to get the funds that were wrongfully taken from our players and their families returned to the club, and today’s court action has accomplished that goal. We support the terms of the agreement
Brian Patrick Molloy of Farmington also paid $87,000 restitution to the court on Friday as part of the sentence agreement. That agreement included that $87,000, due by the sentencing date of Feb. 9, two years probation, and all other fines, conditions, costs and terms imposed by Circuit Judge James Chylinski at the sentencing.
Molloy, 40, was arraigned Oct. 4 on a charge he embezzled more than $100,000 from the soccer club,
Prosecutors confirmed the sentencing agreement was reached, but did not issue any statement or comment Friday.
Robert Morad, Molloy’s attorney, was reached Friday by telephone, but didn’t want to comment on the case until the sentencing.
Livonia police could not be reached for comment Friday.
The embezzlement was discovered when club officials found suspicious activity involving bank accounts, discovered as part of a routine examination of club bank statements.
Club officers contacted bank authorities, who in turn alerted their fraud prevention unit. At that time, club officials said they worked closely with police and fraud investigators and added safeguards to prevent “this type of regrettable incident from ever happening again.”
On Friday, LCSC spokesman Joe Bauman issued the following statement:
“The Livonia City Soccer Club is very pleased and relieved to have this most unfortunate chapter in our history behind us. We are very thankful to our attorney, Paul Bernier of the Flood Lanctot Connor & Stablein law firm, Independent Bank, the Livonia Police Department and the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office in bringing this matter to a successful conclusion.
“All along, our top priority has been to get the funds that were wrongfully taken from our players and their families returned to the club, and today’s court action has accomplished that goal. We support the terms of the agreement
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Former Bloomingdale, Georgia pastor indicted for stealing from church
A federal grand jury Tuesday indicted the former pastor of New Harvest International Ministries Church in Bloomingdale for embezzling money from his own church.
The indictment alleges Kenneth Terrell, 46, stole at least $200,000 of the church’s money for his own use over a span of four years, said James D. Durham, first assistant U.S. attorney.
Terrell was charged with seven counts of wire fraud. The former pastor faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Durham said the indictment arose after a joint investigation by United States Secret Service Agent William Griffin and Savannah-Chatham Police Detective Raymond Woodberry.
“This defendant is alleged to have used his position as pastor to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars intended for his very own church,” said Edward J. Tarver, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
“The indictment alleges that Terrell systematically took money over at least a four-year period and used it to support a lavish lifestyle.”
The indictment alleges Kenneth Terrell, 46, stole at least $200,000 of the church’s money for his own use over a span of four years, said James D. Durham, first assistant U.S. attorney.
Terrell was charged with seven counts of wire fraud. The former pastor faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Durham said the indictment arose after a joint investigation by United States Secret Service Agent William Griffin and Savannah-Chatham Police Detective Raymond Woodberry.
“This defendant is alleged to have used his position as pastor to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars intended for his very own church,” said Edward J. Tarver, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
“The indictment alleges that Terrell systematically took money over at least a four-year period and used it to support a lavish lifestyle.”
Sunday, January 2, 2011
School employee under investigation for embezzlement in Steelville, Missouri
Long-time Steelville School District board secretary and bookkeeper Crystal Bouse is reportedly being investigated for an alleged embezzlement of school funds.
Although officials with the district would not confirm that Bouse is the subject of the investigation, Superintendent Nathan Holder did say a district employee has been placed on unpaid leave pending the results of an investigation being conducted by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Numerous sources with close ties to the district have said that Bouse is that employee.
A statement from the superintendent’s office released Monday reported that on Tuesday, Dec. 21, the district was informed by the Highway Patrol of a possible criminal situation wherein a district employee was allegedly stealing school funds.
“The employee was immediately removed from the district and access to district technology was terminated,” Holder reported in a prepared statement. “The district is cooperating with law enforcement to investigate the allegations and to ensure that, if any district funds were taken, all such funds are returned.”
Holder added that the district maintains a bond on all of its employees. The district’s bonding company has been notified and Holder was assured the district will not suffer a loss of funds.
“As the investigation proceeds, we will notify our patrons and media,” Holder said.
Holder added that the district is strongly considering a forensic audit that would provide much more detail into its financial practices. Such an audit would entail a thorough investigation, providing a broader depth of information about the district’s policies and procedures related to school funds.
Charges have yet to be filed as a result of the investigation, which remains ongoing. As of Tuesday, Bouse was still listed on the school’s website as the board secretary and district bookkeeper.
Although officials with the district would not confirm that Bouse is the subject of the investigation, Superintendent Nathan Holder did say a district employee has been placed on unpaid leave pending the results of an investigation being conducted by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Numerous sources with close ties to the district have said that Bouse is that employee.
A statement from the superintendent’s office released Monday reported that on Tuesday, Dec. 21, the district was informed by the Highway Patrol of a possible criminal situation wherein a district employee was allegedly stealing school funds.
“The employee was immediately removed from the district and access to district technology was terminated,” Holder reported in a prepared statement. “The district is cooperating with law enforcement to investigate the allegations and to ensure that, if any district funds were taken, all such funds are returned.”
Holder added that the district maintains a bond on all of its employees. The district’s bonding company has been notified and Holder was assured the district will not suffer a loss of funds.
“As the investigation proceeds, we will notify our patrons and media,” Holder said.
Holder added that the district is strongly considering a forensic audit that would provide much more detail into its financial practices. Such an audit would entail a thorough investigation, providing a broader depth of information about the district’s policies and procedures related to school funds.
Charges have yet to be filed as a result of the investigation, which remains ongoing. As of Tuesday, Bouse was still listed on the school’s website as the board secretary and district bookkeeper.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)