Church Member Accused of Embezzling 1M, Yvonne Nava, NBC Connecticut, December 8, 2009

Church Member Accused of Embezzling $1m

By Yvonne Nava
NBC Connecticut
December 8, 2009

http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local-beat/Orange-Church-Funds-Embezzled-78674472.html

A member of a church in Orange is believed to have embezzled close to $1 million from the parish.

Over the weekend, St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church held an emergency meeting to tell its members what happened.

According to the New Haven Register, the money was taken from the church’s endowment and building funds.

Church leaders would not identify the member of the church who had access to both funds. It’s unknown exactly how much was taken.

Sources told the Register that the person who handled the church’s funds also handled individual retirement, college and other investment accounts for members of the congregation. Losses might be far greater than the church’s alone, reports the Register.

Joseph Martini, an attorney representing the church, said they are now working with the FBI in the investigation.