Financial Crime News 03/31/2023

(March 30) Thousands Of Dollars In Camping Gear Stolen From A Local Boy Scout Troop | Elkhart, IN

Police in Elkhart are investigating after Boy Scout Troop 750′s camping trailer was stolen.

According to troop leader Jeff Fullhart, they’ve been using the same parking spot outside of St Thomas Church’s Youth House for 5 years, but at their Monday night meeting, they noticed it was gone.

“It had absolutely all of our camping stuff in it,” Fullhart said, including 12 tents, cookware, a stove, lanterns, tools, and more, “You know, basically everything we needed to go out camping.”

Fullhart told 16 News Now that police told him, they didn’t believe that the thieves knew they were targeting Boy Scouts when stealing the trailer.

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(March 30) Crime Stoppers: Thief Steals AC Units From Church | Bowling Green, KY

Bowling Green Police are investigating the theft and damage to air conditioning units belonging to a local church. It happened on March 21.

A video of the suspect’s vehicle, shows it to be a 90′s model GMC or Chevrolet Truck with multiple colors. It is tan or gold, has white front quarter panels, and has a dark strip on the bottom. The passenger door appears to be a darker color as well.

The truck also appears to have different styles of wheels.

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(March 29) Kankakee Sheriff’s Department Investigates Church Burglary In Momence | IL

The Kankakee Sheriff’s Department is investigating a burglary that occurred at Greater Goodwill Missionary Baptist Church on East Grove Street in Momence on Sunday around 7 pm.

According to reports, deputies responded to an alarm call and found the front door had been kicked in upon arrival.

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(March 29) Van Zandt County Grand Jury Indicts Canton Woman In Connection With Theft Of Church Funds | Van Zandt County, TX

A former children’s pastor and finance director at a Canton church has been indicted by a Van Zandt County grand jury.

According to the March 17, 2023 indictment, Donna Corry Drake was booked into the Van Zandt County jail on Friday after being accused of stealing money from Lakeside Baptist Church over a period of years from Oct. 1, 2018 to Sept. 15, 2022.

Drake was arrested on Friday and has been charged with theft of property more than or equal to $30,000 but less than or equal to $150,000. Drake has since been released on a $10,000 bond.

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(March 29) Former Duncan Church Secretary Charged With Embezzlement | Duncan, OK

The former secretary of a church in Duncan is facing an embezzlement charge for allegedly stealing money from the congregation.

According to court documents, Disa Schornick is the ex-wife of the former pastor at New Beginnings Family Worship Center and worked as the secretary while he was employed at the church. During that time she had at least partial control over the finances for the church.

After Schornick left the church in May of 2022, new board members began looking at financial records and found the church had a negative bank account amount and other irregularities, according to the documents.

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