Financial Crime News 03/24/2023

(March 22) Homeless People Accused Of Shacking Up Next Door To Church, Stealing Utilities | San Antonio, TX

Police in Texas are investigating a situation involving a church and the people living next door.

Authorities in San Antonio said the church had been complaining to police and the city manager’s office about that property next door.

They said they think homeless people have been living in that house, and they've been breaking into the church to steal electricity and water, and go through the trash.

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(March 21) Woman Charged With Embezzling Funds From Tucson Church | Tucson, AZ

A former Tucson woman has been charged with stealing money from an eastside church. Court documents reveal 54-year-old Carmen Theel is accused of embezzling funds for about six years.

Theel is charged with one count of theft, seven counts of fraudulent schemes and artifices, which is a class two felony and one count of computer tampering -- a Class three felony.

The documents also show she’s alleged to have stolen more than $100,000 over six years from 2012 to 2018.

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(March 21) Bail Set For Man Accused Of Robbery In Tuesday Shooting Near Lacey Area Church, School | Lacey, WA

A 20-year-old man accused of engaging in a shootout near a Lacey area church Tuesday is being held in the Thurston County jail in lieu of $50,000 bail. Jordan Wayne Kirkendall attended his preliminary hearing in Thurston County Superior Court on Wednesday, after deputies arrested him late Tuesday evening on suspicion of first-degree robbery and assault. He’s accused of robbing a man who met him to purchase fentanyl, an opioid that is 50-100 times stronger than morphine.

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(March 21) Former CEO Gets 42-Month Prison Sentence For Credit Union Embezzlement | Birmingham, AL

Phillip Topping steals $267,000 from a church-lobby ATM and teller cash drawer at an Alabama credit union.

A federal judge ordered a former president/CEO, Phillip Brian Topping, to begin his 42-month prison sentence in July for embezzling $267,000 from the $1.1 million New Pilgrim Federal Credit Union in Birmingham, Ala.

During a sentencing hearing last week, U.S. District Court Judge R. David Proctor in Birmingham also ordered Topping to pay restitution of $255,000 to CUNA Mutual Group (CMG) and $20,440 to NPFCU.

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(March 20) Police Investigating Theft From Grace United Methodist Church In Takoma Park | Takoma Park, MD 

Police in Takoma Park are investigating a theft that occurred at the Grace United Methodist Church on Sunday morning.

Officers responded at approximately 10:53 a.m. on Sunday to the Grace United Methodist Church in the 7000 block of New Hampshire Ave. for a report of property stolen from the church by an unknown suspect(s), police spokesperson Cathy Plevy wrote in an emailed community advisory.

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