Church Leader Jailed For $360K Theft From Worshippers
A former church administrator in California has been sentenced to over five years in prison for embezzling approximately $360,000 from her congregation.
Chanell Easton, 38, of Oklahoma City, was convicted several months ago for stealing from a church in Yuba City over a five-year period.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California announced that Easton has been sentenced to five years and one month in prison for her embezzlement. A separate hearing to determine restitution is scheduled for November 19. In a letter to U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez before her sentencing, Easton expressed “deep regret” for her actions, attributing her criminal behavior to a troubled upbringing that she claimed had a significant impact on her development and well-being.
“I am deeply sorry for what I have done,” Easton wrote, as reported by The Sacramento Bee last month. “This is not who I am.”
Easton, who is the wife of former Marysville Police Chief Aaron Easton, was an administrator at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Yuba City. From June 2013 to February 2018, she misappropriated over $360,000 from various church accounts, including those designated for the food pantry and youth group. She also used church credit cards for personal expenses, such as a vacation rental, VIP tickets, and purchases at retail stores and a hair salon.
In May 2022, a federal grand jury in Sacramento charged Easton with 22 counts of wire fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft, with each wire fraud count carrying a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
St. Andrew Presbyterian Church revealed in 2022 that they discovered the missing funds shortly after Easton’s departure. The church stated that they have since implemented rigorous checks and balances to prevent similar issues in the future.
Last October, Easton pleaded guilty to the 22 wire fraud charges but maintained her innocence on the two identity theft counts. She was found guilty in March.