Fired Cfo of Philadelphia Archdiocese Charged in $900k Theft; Investigators Recoup $150k

Washington Post
March 13, 2012

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/fired-cfo-of-philadelphia-archdiocese-charged-in-900k-theft-investigators-recoup-150k/2012/03/13/gIQAq8Io9R_story.html

A former financial executive of the Philadelphia archdiocese has been charged with stealing over $900,000 from the church.

City prosecutors say 42-year-old Anita Guzzardi surrendered Tuesday. She was fired in July, weeks after becoming chief financial officer.

Prosecutors say Guzzardi used hundreds of church checks to pay personal credit card bills from 2005 to 2011. The investigation began when American Express contacted authorities.

Guzzardi’s lawyer did not immediately return a message Tuesday.

The Haddon Heights, N.J., woman had worked for the Roman Catholic archdiocese since 1989.

Prosecutors say they’ve recovered about $150,000 for the church. The archdiocese says insurance will pay for most of the remaining losses.

In a statement, the archdiocese says the money came from its general operating fund, and not from any fundraising campaigns.