This was an elaborate scam.
A former staff member of a Florida church has admitted to embezzling $775,000 from the parish’s operating account within a five-month period.
According to a plea agreement shared by the Catholic News Agency, Heather Darrey admitted to defrauding Christ the King Catholic Church in Tampa during her tenure as the church’s records and finance manager.
Darrey’s role involved creating printed bank checks for the parish’s vendors and obtaining signatures from church officials. The plea agreement details how she would destroy the legitimate checks and replace them with handwritten ones of the same amount, but made out to her personal accounts and creditors.
To cover her tracks, Darrey falsified records to make it seem as though the legitimate checks had been mailed, the plea agreement stated.
An audit revealed that from October 2023 to March 2024, Darrey’s fraudulent activities resulted in a total loss of $775,196.90. The review of her financial records showed expenditures on concert tickets, luxury goods, mortgage payments, and other personal purchases.
Before the full extent of her theft was uncovered, Darrey confessed to taking a smaller amount and pleaded with the church not to involve law enforcement.
The plea agreement includes a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a supervised release period of up to three years. Additionally, Darrey has been ordered to repay the $775,000 to the church and any other victims as determined by the court.
In a recent statement, the diocese described the incident as a “complex financial crime” and assured that no parishioner’s personal financial information had been compromised. They also expressed their prayers for healing, especially for Darrey’s family as they cope with the situation.
Christ the King Catholic Church offers various ministries aimed at serving God and the community. The church encourages involvement in Bible studies, missions, outreach, worship, and other areas of service, highlighting the opportunities for individuals to contribute their unique gifts and talents.
A 2019 report by Brotherhood Mutual indicated that church fraud globally might reach $80 billion by 2025. Tom Lichtenberger, an assistant vice president at Brotherhood Mutual, noted that church-related thefts are often carried out by trusted individuals within the congregation, underscoring the need for vigilance and robust financial safeguards.