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	Eith Claims No Fraud Intended By Steve Sharp Watertown Daily Times October 14, 2009 http://www.wdtimes.com/articles/2009/10/14/news/news2.txt JEFFERSON - Despite convictions for fraud in the past, Arthur Eith of rural Juneau is maintaining he had no fraudulent intent when he talked his St. Bernard's Catholic Church priest, the Rev. Thomas Marr, into securing funding for him so he could then supposedly go about receiving money owed him by the Nigerian government. Eith is being sued in Jefferson County Civil Court by the congregation of St. Bernard's, which is located at 114 S. Church St. in Watertown. Parishioners of St. Bernard's were told at church services this past weekend that approximately $55,000 in church funds were missing. In addition to church funds, parishioners were told more than $340,000 was collected from 31 individuals or family units, including members and others outside the parish. Marr, longtime pastor at the church, has been on a six-month leave of absence since July while the church investigated irregularities in bookkeeping. Church officials have said Marr invested the money in a "non-traditional alternative investment" that allegedly could greatly benefit the church. Marr conducted the unauthorized borrowing of funds through the church's bookkeeper, who is no longer employed by the church. Neither Marr nor the bookkeeper informed or consulted the church finance committee about the borrowing of the funds. It is estimated that the borrowing of funds occurred over an 18-month period prior to discovery in May. Marr invested the money with Eith. None of the money has been recovered. Neither Marr nor the bookkeeper is currently being charged with any wrongdoing, but investigations remain under way. According to the complaint in the matter on file at the Jefferson County Clerk's office, in December of 2006, Eith approached Marr regarding his purported investment opportunity. This investment opportunity required the congregation to assist Eith financially to allow him to take actions he said were necessary for him to receive payments totaling millions of dollars for services he allegedly performed in Nigeria. Eith indicated he was involved in helping rehabilitate land scarred by oil drilling. In return, Eith promised to make substantial contributions to the congregation and various Catholic entities and charities upon his receipt of the funds from the church members. Eith entered a plea of guilty to a charge of bank fraud in 2007 and was ordered to serve five years probation. He was also convicted in 1991 on a charge of federal bank fraud and served two years in prison. In an interview this week with the Wisconsin State Journal, Eith said he did not try to sell his idea to the church as an investment opportunity, but was just turning to his church for help and maintained he is innocent of any fraud in the matter. The complaint goes on to state that Marr did not truthfully explain the purposes for which the loans would be used and that the alleged investment opportunity was false. A check on state court records this morning indicated that there are no court dates yet set for the St. Bernard's vs. Eith matter.
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