Tag: Financial Crime
Former parishioner accused of bilking $10K from church
The Fenton Police Department has initiated a criminal investigation after officials of a Fenton church filed an embezzlement complaint. Lt. Jason Slater said, on Sept. 2, officials from a local church came in and said the church had become a victim of fraud, and possibly out as much as $10,000. To raise funds, the church […]
Ex-church treasurer in Neiilsville gets jail for embezzling $127,000
A Neillsville church treasurer guilty in an embezzlement scam was sentenced Thursday to six months in jail and ordered to pay $127,555 in restitution. John L. Roenz, 63, of Neillsville began repaying Calvary Lutheran Church immediately, ponying up $100,000 of his restitution shortly after he was sentenced, according to a Clark County clerk of courts […]
Update in St. Isidore Church Embezzlement Case
A former St. Isidore Catholic Church volunteer charged with taking more than $90,000 from the church is waiting to find out how much, if any money she must pay back in restitution. Evelyn Peinado, 64, a longtime church volunteer from Alamo, pleaded not guilty to three counts of embezzlement in connection with the more than […]
League City Police: Suspects stole credit cards from churches
League City police are asking the public’s help in locating two suspects accused of stealing credit cards from churches. Two League City churches and one Nassau Bay church have been victims of credit card theft, League City Police Sgt. John Jordan said Thursday. The League City incidents occurredin July and September and the Nassau Bay […]
Prosecutors: Santa Rosa church embezzlement totals $712K
Sonoma County prosecutors on Wednesday filed a 14-count criminal complaint against a Guerneville woman suspected of embezzling more than $712,000 from a Santa Rosa church over a period of seven years. An arrest warrant was issued for Eleanor Zapanta, 51, who worked as the business manager for the Center for Spiritual Living of Santa Rosa, […]
S.Korea church leader faces embezzlement probe
SEOUL — Prosecutors launched an investigation into the founder of South Korea's largest church, who has been accused by religious elders of embezzlement involving millions of dollars. Twenty-nine elders of the Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul asked prosecutors Tuesday to investigate Reverend Cho Yong-Gi and his eldest son Hee-Jun, for allegedly siphoning off donations […]
Facilities manager sentenced in St. Isidore embezzlement case
A Danville resident and former employee of St. Isidore's Church is may have a difficult time paying the bills. Virgilo Lukban, 47, pleaded no contest to one count of petty theft and now must repay part of the $68,0000 he stole from the church. The former facilities manager was charged with five felony counts of […]
Former St. Clair of Assisi Parish employee charged with theft
The Eagle County Sheriff’s arrested and charged Kevin Wall, age 59, of Vail with Felony Theft ($20,000 or more). In 2009, St. Clair of Assisi uncovered irregularities involving cash deposits made by Kevin, a former employee. A two year investigation determined that Kevin was stealing monetary contributions made to the church collected during services. Administrators […]
Former Church Employee Ordered to Pay Back $35,000
St. Isidore Catholic Church's former facilities manager, Virgilio Lukban, will spend the next three years paying back $35,000 of $68,802 he is charged with stealing from the Danville church. The 47-year-old Danville resident pleaded no contest Thursday to grand theft charges and was sentenced to three years probation and 65 days in jail but received […]
Former Swissvale Pastor Waives Hearing Wednesday Morning
Fr. Francis Drabiska appeared before District Judge Ross C. Cioppa this afternoon to sign a subpoena and waiver of his right to a preliminary hearing as he is charged with stealing more than $143K from Word of God parish in Swissvale. Drabiska is the former pastor of the parish. His attorney, Patrick Livingston, accompanied him […]
Church reports theft of $20K from coffers
Officials of a Westside church reported Monday an ex-employee stole $20,000 from church coffers, Athens-Clarke police said. The officials at Young Harris Memorial United Methodist Church uncovered discrepancies during a recent finance committee meeting, and further investigation determined the full extent of the thefts, according to the Rev. Carey Gibson, the Prince Avenue church's pastor. […]
Prominent Mt. Sinai Pastor charged in federal tax case
CLEVELAND — The U.S. Attorney's Office today charged the senior pastor of the prominent Mount Sinai Baptist Church with intentionally failing to pay at least $90,000 in taxes that were witheld from the paychecks of church employees. The Rev. Charles J. Matthews, 58, of Shaker Heights was supposed to forward the payroll income and Social […]
Brazil charges church leaders with embezzling millions from poor
Three leading members of one of Brazil's most powerful churches have been accused of laundering millions in church donations and using worshippers' money for personal gain. The charges, unveiled on Monday by São Paulo's public prosecutor, relate to 404m reals (£150m) allegedly obtained from mostly impoverished churchgoers by leaders at Brazil's Universal Church of the […]
Priest arraigned on theft charges
FITCHBURG — The Rev. Lowe B. Dongor — the Diocese of Worcester's first Filipino priest — was arraigned in Fitchburg District Court today on charges of possessing child pornography and stealing from the parish. Rev. Dongor, 35, of 51 Illinois St., Worcester, was released on personal recognizance by Judge Andrew L. Mandell and was ordered […]
Port Arthur church obtains TRO against pastor
The First Sixth Street Baptist Church in Port Arthur obtained a temporary restraining order against its pastor, Donald Toussaint, who allegedly hid his criminal past and now stands accused of misusing church funds. David Joseph, chairman of the church board, filed the TRO application Sept. 8 in Jefferson County District Court. That same day, Judge […]
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