Posted on 02/24/2008 5:58:39 PM PST by JRochelle
The Indiana State Police are looking for a 65-year-old former pastor they believe took thousands of dollars from his Topeka church.
David Eugene Troyer of Fort Wayne was the pastor of Maple Grove Church in LaGrange County until last fall. But in October, church officials asked Troyer to step down after they discovered the silver-haired pastor misappropriated about $40,000 of church funds, police said.
LaGrange County Prosecutor Jeff Wible charged Troyer with five counts of forgery, according to police.
Authorities said Troyer would go to the church’s bookkeeper and ask for money to help someone in need, saying he already had permission from the church’s board of elders. The bookkeeper would make a check out using the name given by Troyer, who would then take the check, forge a signature on the back and cash it, state police Detective Jeff Boyd said.
While police investigated Troyer’s use of aliases to cash the checks at a local bank, they discovered he was also using aliases and phony business fronts to conduct other transactions, which could lead to other charges elsewhere, according to a statement from the state police.
A message left at the church Wednesday seeking comment was not returned.
Troyer also entered into personal, short-term loans with private citizens, many from the church’s congregation, but then failed to pay the money back, police said. In those transactions, it appears Troyer garnered more than $250,000, according to police.
All the money seemed to fuel a lavish lifestyle, in spite of the mortgage foreclosure to Troyer’s Topeka home. Police believe Troyer had an apartment in southwest Fort Wayne, had multiple vehicles and took vacations.
Troyer’s wife, 63-year-old Marsha J. Troyer, has also been charged with theft, Boyd said.
(Excerpt) Read more at journalgazette.net ...
Was this at the Mennonite Church at Topeka?
No. It was a mennonite church years ago I believe.
No longer.
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