Posted on 02/21/2019 12:44:18 PM PST by Buckeye McFrog
UPPER ST. CLAIR, Pa. (KDKA) – Westminster Presbyterian Church in Upper St. Clair is one of the largest Presbyterian churches in southwestern Pennsylvania with over 1700 members.
One of those long-time members, David Reiter, was also the church administrator for 17 years.
It turns out, police say, that he was also a big time thief, stealing more than $1.2 million from the church between 2001 and 2018
In a lengthy complaint, the Allegheny County District Attorney’s office has charged Reiter with 10 counts, including forgery, criminal conspiracy, and theft.
The complaint alleges that Reider stole over $979,000 through an electronic transfer of funds from the church’s PNC Bank account to his own PNC account.
He is also accused of misusing a Bank of America credit card to the tune of $229,000.
The complaint alleges that Reider used that money for both general household expenses and a variety of family trips, including Disney World, Hershey Park, Cedar Point and Kings Island.
(Excerpt) Read more at pittsburgh.cbslocal.com ...
I guess they didn’t learn anything from Ananias and Sapphira.
If they even read Scripture.
Preachers and Teachers . . .
Insurance fraud investigators use that expression to summarize the most common occupations of insurance fraud perpetrators.
I was shocked to learn that.
Wow. Add to the list of not so Christian church members - specifically, admins.
See BTK killer - Dennis RADER, pres of church council, born in PITTSBURG KS.
Interesting.
Ever mind the points made elsewhere
This is a big church. If it was per year it means only about $705/year/member. Not that big a burden
All you need to 2-3 people with read-access to the Bank data.
Actually, bookkeepers and financial officers embezzling from churches is not uncommon at all.
Well... It IS a PC-USA church..
About $70,500 a year, or around 3%.
Looks like they have over 1700 members, an annual budget of a little over $2 million. A little over what I would have guessed for a church that size, but not by much. About 30% of the members over age 65. Almost all white.
Sad to say that’s not uncommon since churches began. I believe there was a little story a long time ago about a couple of thieves Ananias & Sapphira who sort of “accidentally” kept part of the receipts from the sale of a possession that was supposed to go to the church. The results were not pleasant. (Acts 5:11)
Large wealthy churches are especially more apt to have these kind of problems. All that money is sooooo tempting. That church made a really unwise mistake. If you have one person handling all the money and not having a second pair of eyes on the records and every time a transaction takes place, you have no accountability.
I should have read down thread before posting, metmom. It was the first thing I thought about.
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