More Than $60,000 Missing from Charity, According to Church Officials
By Eileen E. Flynn
American-Statesman [Austin TX]
March 16, 2007
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/03/16/16catholic.html
Austin police have issued an arrest warrant for Leo Anchondo, a former Austin Catholic leader who rose from his position helping immigrants in Central Texas to working for immigration reform on a national stage.
Anchondo, 34, is accused of stealing more than $60,000 from Immigrant Concerns, an office within the Catholic Charities of Central Texas, said Helen Osman, a spokeswoman for the diocese. He left his job as director of that office in 2005 to become national manager of the Justice for Immigrants campaign created by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
"The fact that someone could take advantage of their position, especially when working for the church, is upsetting," Osman said. "We intend to cooperate fully with the police in trying to understand what exactly happened."
 |
| Leo Anchondo Official worked with immigrants, helping them with documentation. |
Anchondo, identified in the warrant as Leopoldo Anchondo Cerros, could not be reached for comment.
Catholic Charities officials discovered that the funds were missing after Anchondo left, Osman said. His office typically received cash for services, though it also dealt with money orders and checks.
Services, including helping immigrants with documen- tation and legal case management, were provided. But $62,885 collected between 2002 and 2005 was not deposited in the Catholic Charities accounts, she said.
Osman said officials did an audit and an internal investigation before reporting the missing funds to police last spring.
In 2002, Anchondo also served Austin's Commission on Immigrant Affairs.
Officials did not say why an arrest warrant for Anchondo was not issued sooner.
Contact: eflynn@statesman.com; 445-3812
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.