Alabama
Secretary sentenced for stealing $90K from Alabama church
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama lady has been sentenced to 18 months in federal jail after authorities say she stole practically $90,000 from a now-closed church the place she labored as secretary, utilizing among the cash for journeys to casinos.
Carmen Ramer Davis, 59, of Opp, was sentenced Friday after pleading responsible in November to eight counts of wire fraud, court docket information present.
Brooklyn Congregational Methodist Church in Espresso County closed due to monetary hardship quickly after the fraud was found in August 2019, and it has not reopened, in accordance with a information launch Friday by Center District of Alabama U.S. Lawyer Sandra Stewart.
“The crimes dedicated by Ms. Davis victimized a complete religion neighborhood,” Stewart stated. “The hurt will proceed to be felt for fairly a while.”
As a part of the sentencing Friday, U.S. District Decide R. Austin Huffaker Jr. ordered Davis to serve one yr of supervised launch after she leaves jail.
The church appointed Davis as its secretary in 2006 and he or she had entry to its checking account to pay the congregation’s payments, in accordance with court docket information and testimony.
Prosecutors stated Davis obtained a debit card for the church account with out the information of church leaders, and he or she used it to make fraudulent money withdrawals and buy gadgets for herself. She additionally wrote checks from the church account to herself or made them out to money, with out permission.
An investigation confirmed Davis used among the church’s cash for journeys to casinos in Mississippi and Alabama.
The fraudulent exercise was found when a church chief obtained a financial institution letter about inadequate funds to cowl a $75 verify from the church account.
Throughout Friday’s sentencing listening to, Huffaker decided that from July 2008 till July 2019, Davis defrauded the church of $89,440. The choose ordered her to pay restitution to the church in that quantity.