A former church manager from Tampa, Heather Darrey, has been sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for wire fraud. U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday ordered her to forfeit $875,323.19, the amount she embezzled, following her guilty plea on June 6, according to the
U.S. Attorney’s Office
.
While working as a Records and Finance Manager at Church #1, Darrey, aged 45, misappropriated funds by making fraudulent checks payable to herself, various creditors, and a mortgage company. In her trusted position, Darrey was, responsible for her actions, creating a false facade of legitimacy by manipulating the church’s accounting software to cover up her thefts. Darrey expended the stolen funds on a litany of personal indulgences, among them clothing, vacations, and tickets to concerts.
The United States Secret Service alongside the Tampa Police Department conducted the investigation that ultimately brought Darrey’s activities to light, as reported by the
U.S. Attorney’s Office
. The case was later prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Greg Pizzo, Suzanne Nebesky, and Jordan Howard.
The revelations of embezzlement have sent ripples through the community which, previously had held Darrey in high esteem for her role at the church. Upon sentencing, it was not immediately clear how Church #1 would recover the stolen funds or what measures they would implement to prevent similar breaches of trust.
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