Monday, April 20, 2009

Wisconsin Woman Sentenced In Church Embezzlement Case

Laura J. Craig, 50, of Oakwood, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 9 months in prison for embezzling at least $113,000 from the Salem United Methodist Church in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, where she had served as the church's bookkeeper. Craig's thefts occurred between January 2007 and May 2008, according to investigators. Nevertheless, the church claims the theft was actually $138,000. Prosecutors stated that she has paid back some $85,000.

Read the story here.

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Having just been told about this and breaking my rule of minding my own business, Along with being an atheist, I don't sit in judgement on anyone. I happen to know this woman and her husband, and know them to be very fine people. Therefore, if pressured into not minding my own business, I'd have to start looking for another reason this happened. I hope they will remain my friends.
Randy

Anonymous said...

How pathetic.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous (Randy),

A very fine woman does not steal. But I'm sure she'll remain your friend--just watch your wallet.

Anonymous said...

This lady is now president of a non-profit rescue. Huh.

Anonymous said...

So she conned that group too.

Hope someone (other than her) audits their books.

Anonymous said...

What a ruthless, pathetic, woman.
She is a shame to her family,
especially her mother (passed)
and all her brothers and sisters.
Poor church, only reason it was paid back was because she asked members of the church, and her husband had to give up things he wanted.
She then goes into a non profit organization? Makes no sense.
She should not be trusted.
Low life, who tries to get other
people in trouble, when she should be worrying about herself.
Hopefully the public realizes how
she really is after seeing this.

Anonymous said...

Wonder how many people who support New Beginnigs Shih Tzu Rescue are aware of her past. Now she buys 10 year old pregnant dogs feom puppy mills and keeps thwm alive just so she can sell the puppies.

Anonymous said...

Crossroads Shih Tzu Rescue is a bunch of old batty women with nothing better to do with their time than bash other rescues. ^^*see comment above**

Anonymous said...

Re: Anonymous, comment above. Isn't that a little presumptive, much less childish? That comment had nothing to do with Crossroads Shih Tzu Rescue. "Old batty women with nothing better to do than bash other rescues" - aren't you describing yourself there, Einstein? Besides, I would personally rather be an old batty woman than a convicted thief. Apparently you don't have such standards for yourself and/or your acquaintances. Good luck to you - if you have anything to do with New Beginnings, you'll need it.

Anonymous said...

Not presumptive at all. The Crossroads Shih Tzu Rescue is run by a bunch of whining babies who didn't get the pregnant dogs they wanted so they can make money off of the babies...so they accuse another rescue of being money hungry??? SMDH. I will tell anyone who will listen about your group and lack of professionalism and I know a lot of people. Congrats on involving yourself in something that has absolutely nothing to do with you.

Anonymous said...

Simply put-New Beginnings is run be a convicted felon. It's not bashing or whining, IT'S A FACT. This is not difficult to figure out, folks. If you have adopted a dog from them, I urge you to go to your vet and scan the microchip. Just because there is a chip doesn't mean it was ever registered, which is the expensive part. It's a known fact that most of their dogs have never been registered. If this is something that was listed in your contract with them, you may have legal recourse.
If you volunteer or donate to this group, please do your homework. Are all funds accounted for? If the group is caught in its own lies as they were last night on their own website, perhaps you should be asking questions.

Anonymous said...

I, personally, have adopted two...and my mother and father have adopted 3...and they are all registered. New Beginnings is an amazing organization which saves hundreds of dogs per year. There is a treasurer who is in control of the funds for the organization. He is not a felon and keeps close tabs on ALL funds.. Maybe you should do your homework. ;-) You should be ashamed of yourself for trying to bring down a rescue devoted to the same cause that you are. You are all over the place with your rant.. The Facebook page is run by a volunteer who thought they were going to Arkansas not Missouri. Just simple human error, not malicious activity similar to your (Crossroads Shih Tzu Rescue) rant.

Anonymous said...

IF what you say is to be believed, then I'm grateful that the organization has done something right. As for the page being run by a volunteer, it would have to have been you, Laura,. Go back and read what you deleted.
I'm done. If there is ever any actions on your part like there was yesterday in MISSOURI, the next message will be to the Wisconsin Attorney General.

Anonymous said...

Re: "I know a lot of people." Yeah, so do I. People with money that used to go toward the organization you're representing, but no longer will. If there was no foulplay on Facebook last night, there would have been responses to the questions asked, not deletion of them. Your social media person needs to learn a thing or two about PR. As for you, just remember that denial is a hell of a drug.

Anonymous said...

Not Laura.. My name is Amanda. You ladies have no case and you are lying about all your rants about the events of yesterday. We saved 16 dogs. You ladies didn't try to help save the first few dogs bc you had your eyes on the money makers while we brought home all we could. I'm glad you are done with your rant because you are a liar and bitter because you we're kicked out of NBSTR for your bullshit. I will be spreading the word about your rescue. You ladies got to get your priorities straight. We all forgive Laura for he past. She is a wonderful lady and you need to worry about yourself, you old biddy.

Anonymous said...

I was never in NBSTR. Trust me, you don't know who you're dealing with. I don't resort to name-calling, that is pitifully childish. Funny, you even assume that I'm a woman.

Running a charity organization is a right, one where there is trust put in your hands to do the right thing. That would include up to and including appropriate handling of funds.



Anonymous said...

Truth of the matter is I was there and I witnessed the conversation between the two rescuers. I clearly heard the CSTR only wanted the pregnant babies and none of the other Shih Tzu's. The woman representing CSTR told NBSTR that if she stopped bidding(NBSTR)that she would start. NBSTR bid on every single shih tzu and the representative from CSTR only bid on 2. Who was looking for "money making opportunity" and not trying to save dogs, in my mind it was CSTR. I don't care about Laura's conviction as it has nothing to do with the auction or what happened in Missouri at the auction, why was that brought up. CSTR was mad because they did not get the pregnant dogs that is the bottom line and I think that is disgusting.

Anonymous said...

Seriously, you make this too easy. May I refer everyone to the New Beginnings SHIH TZU rescue FB page where you folks posted a thank you to Mary and Jimmy in ARKANSAS for letting you stay there. Another typo? Also, the Freedom Train(????) consisted of Melissa, Laura, and Susan-no Amanda.
As per the conversation, there are witnesses to the contrary. I won't even bother myself with addressing your unfounded accusations. I simply ask folks to check out the Crossroads page. If this group was "in it for the babies" why are there so few puppies at Crossroads? They also run Polo's Refuge, a permanent home for older, unadoptable dogs. Can you say the same? Hardly.I pray that I'm wrong, but the New Beginnings site smacks of almost being a 501c3 puppy mill. There are so few adult dogs. Everyone is cute and lovable. Do you have any adult, rehabilitated dogs? You know, the ones that need a little work.

I urge everyone to check out both rescues-guess which one has the excellent record?

Anonymous said...

CSTR: If you aren't in for the puppies than why didn't you try to save other dogs? Why are you trying to bring up Laura's conviction when it has absolutely nothing to do with anything? And, why are you trying to bring up anything at all that you can start an arguement over? Are you that desperate to try to bring us down? This situation reeks of jealousy.. Your malicious intentions have backfired on you. In my eyes, you have only made us grow closer and stronger. So thanks ANONYMOUS (CSTR) for that!! :) In addition, you made your own fans see how you really are by your Facebook rants. I refuse to have any more discussions with you as you are an imbecile and not worth the effort, concern, or time... Good luck with your cyber bullying. I hope it brightens up your day in between your games of the Sims and whoever else you cyber bully. Maybe you will find a new hobby...or some friends.. :)

Yours truely,

Amanda M.

Anonymous said...

*truly

(spelling error I'm sure you will attack me over due to lack of hobbies.) :)

Anonymous said...

I just checked the two websites and I am confused. Crossroads show 7 dogs and 2 of them are in refuge. None of their dogs are over the age of 8. New Beginnings has 9 dogs over the age of 10 with 6 of them in permanent foster homes(lack of refuge I would guess). So they stay in permanent foster homes.
I don't see cute young puppies all over the place on New Beginnings???? Doing the research and checking the IRS tax forms Crossroads only took in 87 dogs in 2011 and New Beginnings took in 185 dogs. Not sure what your point is and why this is posted on a conviction blog. But check your facts again, please.