Eight Arrested in Florida Church Donation Fraud Scheme

Authorities in Manatee County, Florida, have arrested eight individuals accused of orchestrating a fraud scheme that diverted over $260,000 in church donations. The suspects allegedly intercepted mailed checks from congregants and deposited them into personal bank accounts using mobile banking technology, a method that allowed the activity to remain undetected for an extended period. Investigators noted that the perpetrators had no affiliation with the targeted congregations.

The investigation, which began last December after Harvest United Methodist Church reported a suspicious decrease in mail, has identified 66 victims within Manatee County with losses totaling $72,000. Additional victims outside the county reported losses of nearly $194,000. Law enforcement officials, including the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, are continuing to identify further victims and have issued arrest warrants for seven additional suspects, one of whom is believed to be in Cuba. The arrested individuals face charges including organized scheme to defraud, grand theft, and criminal use of personal identification.