Ex-bookkeeper gets 2 years in prison for stealing $400K from Georgia church

Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | 04/09/2018 | Lauren Foreman

[aimhigh]

A former bookkeeper was sentenced to two years in prison for stealing about $420,000 from a Peachtree City church, according to the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. . . .

“We hope that today’s federal prison sentence will bring some solace to the church and its members, and deter others who might consider stealing from vulnerable victims like churches and charitable organizations,”

[aimhigh]

Two years in a Federal country club prison- wow! I'm curious why this was in Federal Court, rather than a state court.

[Blue Collar Christian]

That’s some pretty good wages for being a thief.

[madison10]

They did not have enough checks and balances in place. The treasurer should have caught the unusual spending.

[Mark17]

Two years in a Federal country club prison- wow!

I think very few people will be deterred by that. I also wonder how they will get her to pay it back, unless she makes a ton of money doing something else.

[Nifster]

Read the story. This gal wrote checks forging the treasurers signature and didn’t record the checks in the accounting software

She was using fake accounts that were under her control. And on and on

She was no good from the get go

[Mamzelle]

No mug shots. I wonder why?

[deadrock]

Once again, a court of law confirms that women cannot be held responsible for their actions.

Send her to Bon Air where she belongs.

[deadrock]

Bon Air.

[madison10]

I DID read the story. The only way that there could be $1000 difference between what was taken in and recorded on Sunday am and what was deposited is that SHE was making the deposits. That is not enough separation of duties.

The bookkeeper should never touch the money, at least not at a church. Also, another person should have been going over the check register and bills. Purchase orders help. It was not the only way she was cheating obviously.

[Blue Jays]

"...$420,000..."

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I would notice very quickly if I had inadvertently misplaced nearly a half-million dollars!

[dfwgator]

[Blue Jays]

LOL! It happens to the best of us sometimes.

[The_Media_never_lie]

They did not have enough checks and balances in place. The treasurer should have caught the unusual spending.

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There should always be multiple pairs of eyes overseeing money in organizations. It helps to keep people honest.

[riverrunner]

I lot harder to do in a 30 person church.

[Bonemaker]

“Ex-bookkeeper gets 2 years in prison for stealing $400K from Georgia church”

Hillary Clinton steals hundreds of millions, commits multiple acts of treason and gets.....nothing.

[madison10]

It can be done.

[Lurker]

Wow. The State gave my sister in law 4-1/2 to 7 and my brother 2-1/2 to 4 for stealing a little over $100k under almost identical circumstances.

Those were State charges, tho. The Feds didn’t prosecute them.

Yet.

L

[Nifster]

I agree with your comments about deposit controls and controls in general

They caught because of the deposit theft which means they have some controls in place.

Unfortunately churches are too trusting thinking everyone who works for them is honest. And second this person was a bad actor from the get go

[AppyPappy]

Some treasurers resist oversight. They see it as meddling. You need multiple people with inquiry capability on all accounts.

[Nifster]

Agreed