TAMPA, Fla. – A Florida woman who pleaded guilty to wire fraud was sentenced to more than two years in federal prison for stealing nearly $1 million from a church where she worked.
Heather Darrey, 45, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison and ordered to forfeit more than $875,000, which she largely spent on mortgage payments, car and boat loans, and credit card bills for clothing, restaurants, vacations, and concert tickets, according to prosecutors.
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“She violated the most basic moral imperative — thou shalt not steal — for foolish material items,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Pizzo wrote in a sentencing memo. “An imprisonment sentence is well-warranted.”
Darrey pled guilty in June of this year.
According to the United States Secret Service, Darrey worked as a records and finance manager at the church. The church was not identified by the Department of Justice, but according to local media reports, Darrey worked at Christ the King Catholic Church.
While working at the church, investigators said she abused her position by creating false and fraudulent bank checks drawn against the church business bank account, in which she made checks payable to her account and paid her mortgage, creditors, and other accounts with the funds.
Darren also inputted false and fraudulent data using accounting software to conceal her theft.
According to the Tampa Bay Times, the theft was a big hit to the South Tampa church, derailing a $7 million building project, and damaging the congregation’s trust.
Her defense attorney said the thefts were a reaction to stress in Darrey’s personal life, the Times reported.