A 72-year-old Indiana woman has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for transferring nearly $574,000 from a Catholic Church and its school into her personal accounts, where she used the money for gambling and vacations.
According to Fox News, the Department of Justice announced this week that Marie Carson, of Indianapolis, pleaded guilty to wire fraud. She had worked for 13 years as a business manager for the church, Saint Matthew Catholic Church and School.
"For more than thirteen years, this defendant abused her position of trust to embezzle money from parishioners intended for a church and school," said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. "Her greed and desire for lavish vacations outweighed her interest in following the dictates of our criminal laws and the teachings of her church, 'thou shalt not steal.'"
Carson was the only staff member at the parish to handle check processing and financial transactions for several years. Then, from 2008 to 2021, she illegally transferred at least $573,836 to her own account.
Carson admitted to authorities she started transferring money in 2004, and authorities estimate the financial loss is more.
In November 2021, Carson was on leave, and a temporary replacement noticed suspicious transfers in the accounts. An investigation found thousands had been moved into other accounts, including a phantom account in the church's name.
The Justice Department said Carson and her husband used a "significant amount of money" for gambling and an annual, month-long vacation to Florida.
FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton called Carson's actions "fueled by pure greed."
In a statement to parishioners in 2022, St. Matthew Rev. Msgr. William F. Stumpf told the church the funds had been "safeguarded."
"We carry Fidelity insurance to cover fraud and theft losses, and we have received payment to cover the documented loss. It is with deep sadness to report that these serious events have occurred."
Carson will be on probation for two years following her release from prison. She must also pay back the money she was convicted of stealing.
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Anurakpong
Amanda Casanova is a writer living in Dallas, Texas. She has covered news for ChristianHeadlines.com since 2014. She has also contributed to The Houston Chronicle, U.S. News and World Report and IBelieve.com. She blogs at The Migraine Runner.
