Found guilty of wire fraud after embezzling $200,000 from First Baptist Church, where she worked from 2007 to 2019 as a financial secretary. She used the money to take trips to New Orleans and Vegas, book a cruise, buy jewelry, and fund a bachelor's degree. Five years in prison plus three years of supervised release and $211,000 in restitution.
Anybody on the board know this dastardly thief?
Anybody on the board know this dastardly thief?
A federal judge has sentenced a Foley woman to five years in prison for wire fraud after she was found guilty of embezzling more than $200,000 from the church where she worked for 12 years.
U.S. District Judge Terry F. Moorer also sentenced Sharon Collins, 53, to a three-year term of supervised release once she leaves prison on Feb. 16. While she did not receive a fine, Collins was ordered to pay more than $211,000 in restitution and special assessments.
According to prosecutors, Collins used church funds to make hundreds of electronic transactions, including trips to New Orleans and Las Vegas, booking a cruise, buying jewelry and funding a bachelor’s degree.
Collins worked as financial secretary for the First Baptist Church between May 2007 and July 2019, responsible for managing the church’s accounting system, preparing financial reports and managing church-issued credit cards.
Prosecutors said Collins embezzled $209,744.61 of church funds through unauthorized use of church-issued credit cards. She later admitted making several false statements, including lying about having the church’s approval to make the purchases.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bishop Ravenel and Justin Roller prosecuted it.
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U.S. District Judge Terry F. Moorer also sentenced Sharon Collins, 53, to a three-year term of supervised release once she leaves prison on Feb. 16. While she did not receive a fine, Collins was ordered to pay more than $211,000 in restitution and special assessments.
According to prosecutors, Collins used church funds to make hundreds of electronic transactions, including trips to New Orleans and Las Vegas, booking a cruise, buying jewelry and funding a bachelor’s degree.
Collins worked as financial secretary for the First Baptist Church between May 2007 and July 2019, responsible for managing the church’s accounting system, preparing financial reports and managing church-issued credit cards.
Prosecutors said Collins embezzled $209,744.61 of church funds through unauthorized use of church-issued credit cards. She later admitted making several false statements, including lying about having the church’s approval to make the purchases.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bishop Ravenel and Justin Roller prosecuted it.
Alabama woman embezzled $200,000 from church where she worked, gets 5 years in prison
Sharon Collins, 53, used church funds for trips to New Orleans and Las Vegas, booking a cruise, buying jewelry and funding a bachelor’s degree.
