TAMPA, Fla. — A former employee of a Catholic church in Tampa admitted to stealing more than $775,000 from the parish over the course of six months.
Heather Darrey, who worked as the records and finance manager at Christ the King Catholic Church, pleaded guilty on Friday to one count of wire fraud.
According to federal court documents, Darrey's work responsibilities included generating printed bank checks, getting them signed and mailing them out to vendors for the payment on invoices.
"Darrey used her position of employment to perpetrate a fraud scheme for her personal enrichment and that of others," the U.S. attorney's office wrote.
The church, located on South Dale Mabry Highway, is in the middle of a large construction project for a new youth center. Pastor Rev. Len Plazewski said this project helped Darrey conceal the theft.
Federal prosecutors say between October 2023 and March 2024, Darrey would generate printed checks from the church's bank account in the amount owed to vendors, get them signed by leaders at the church and then destroy them.
She would then prepare new handwritten bank checks in the same amounts as the legitimate ones but make them payable to her personal accounts, according to court documents.
Prosecutors say Darrey would cover this up by inputting false information into the church's accounting system to make it appear as if she had mailed the original checks to the respective vendors.
In total, prosecutors say Darrey stole $775,196. 90 from Christ the King Catholic Church, which she will have to repay as part of the guilty plea agreement.
According to the U.S. attorney's office, one count of wire fraud has a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Darrey has yet to be sentenced.