Embezzlement

How common is church embezzlement? “About 1 in 10 Protestant churches has had someone embezzle funds, according to a new survey of 1,000 Protestant senior pastors from LifeWay Research” according to a report in Christianity Today. Approximately 80% of embezzlement goes unreported to police. Clearly what is presented here is a very, very small sampling of cases. Because embezzlement can continue undetected for years, entries are sorted by the supposed ‘year of last alleged illegal activity’ for that church. Recent years might appear to have fewer cases due to the typical delay in detecting the crime of embezzlement.

Some cases are only reported by Church Crime Information’s on our “scandal” page. This is because church attempts to keep crimes quiet thus protecting their financial base and name brand.

Most entries on these pages only contain arrests, charges, or indictments, which may eventually be reduced, dropped, or expunged, and as such, these actors may in fact be innocent in a court of law.

These are just a few of the embezzlement incidents we have identified. There are many more to be uploaded, so please check back. Please click on each link to read the underlying news report. If you are looking for a name, use ‘control-F’ to search the list.

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

  • Cases to be added. Please check back.

2004

2001

  • Earles Grove Baptist Church, Earls Grove, SC. Lessa Jean Walters (secretary) charged with $400,000 theft from the church’s bank accounts. Church members caught off guard by secretary’s arrest. Anderson Independent-Mail (SC) – February 8, 2001.

1996

1993

1917