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	Ex-Church Bookkeeper Gets Five Years for Payroll Thefts By Karen E. Bowes Independent April 4, 2007 http://independent.gmnews.com/news/2007/0404/Front_Page/070.html Freehold — A woman who admitted stealing over $800,000 from St. Benedict's Roman Catholic Church, Holmdel, was sentenced to five years in prison on Friday. As part of her sentence, she must also pay back the money. Joan Orlando, 61, Toms River, pleaded guilty on Jan. 22 to theft by deception, a second-degree crime, and failure to pay New Jersey state income taxes, a third-degree crime. Orlando's husband, Richard Orlando, 61, was also indicted in connection with the theft. He is pending trial, scheduled for May 21. Orlando was employed as the bookkeeper and finance administrator of St. Benedict's beginning in 1998. In her position, she had sole responsibility for, among other things, parish payroll. According to the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, Orlando admitted that between 2001 and June of 2005, she submitted inflated salary figures for herself to the payroll processing company. As part of the scheme, Orlando received over $800,000 in excess salary. To conceal the theft, she altered tax records. On Monday, Rayanne Bennett, a spokesperson for the Diocese of Trenton, talked about the importance of remembering the fundamentals of Christianity in regard to this matter. "We keep her and her family in our prayers because this is obviously a difficult time," Bennett said. When asked if students at St. Benedict's school have been informed of the matter, Bennett said she did not know. "But forgiveness is part of our Christian teachings and children are taught to put it into practice," Bennett said. "It's always hard when people betray the trust we give them," Bennett said. "[But] that's what Christ taught and that is what we are called to strive for." Superior Court Judge Paul F. Chaiet ordered Orlando to pay $25,000 in restitution to St. Benedict's over a five-year period. Orlando also agreed to a civil judgment requiring her to pay back $588,163 to Travelers Insurance Co. and $245,793.11 to St. Benedict's. When asked if the parish and school have suffered as a result of the theft, Bennett noted that much of the money has already been returned through the insurance company. "The parish is doing very well under the pastorship of Father Dan Swift," Bennett said. She added, "The sentencing gives needed closure to the parish." In a press release, Monmouth County Prosecutor Luis Valentin said Orlando "grossly abused" the trust of the St. Benedict's community. "The prison sentence imposed will hopefully assist the parish in the healing process," Valentin said. Bennett reiterated the importance of forgiveness. "It is not easy for anyone," Bennett said. "It's a difficult spot for all of us to be in."
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