The church funds were looted.
A woman from New Jersey has admitted to embezzling close to $300,000 from two Catholic churches where she served as a bookkeeper. The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office revealed that Melissa Rivera pleaded guilty to two theft charges related to financial crimes committed over a six-year period, from May 2018 through May 2024. The thefts occurred while she worked at Our Lady of the Mountain in Washington Township and Our Lady of Good Counsel in Pompton Plains, both located in Morris County.
Investigators found that Rivera stole nearly $287,500 from Our Lady of the Mountain by issuing 137 checks to herself. She also wrote three checks totaling more than $5,200 from the second parish. The Diocese of Paterson, which oversees both churches, became aware of the suspicious activity during a routine financial review and launched an internal investigation. After identifying a pattern of irregular check writing, the diocese promptly reported the matter to the county prosecutor’s office and terminated Rivera.
The Diocese emphasized the importance of financial oversight and acknowledged weaknesses in internal controls that allowed the fraud to occur. In response, it has introduced several measures to improve financial transparency and prevent similar issues in the future. One of the key initiatives includes a confidential hotline managed by a third-party provider, allowing individuals to report suspected misconduct.
Following an investigation by the county’s Financial Crimes Unit, Rivera was charged with theft in late March. As part of her sentencing, she will serve 364 days at the Morris County Correctional Center while on probation. Additionally, she must repay the full amount she stole—$292,728—to the affected churches. Her official sentencing is scheduled for July 11.