Thursday, September 9, 2010

Florida Pastor Pleads Guilty To $800+K Union Embezzlement Scheme

Gregory Sims, 38, of Dade City, Florida, pleaded guilty this week to charges he embezzled more than $800,000 from the Tampa-based 1,100 member International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 915 union. According to authorities, Sims, a pastor of The Crossroads of Dade City church, was employed by Antares Staffing, Inc. as a bookkeeper, which through its parent company, Medical Mutual Services LLC, had a contract manage the union's health, welfare, pension and vacation funds. Sims' responsibilities included keeping financial records, reconciling accounts and issuing checks. Prosecutors alleged that Sims issued 11 checks to the Crossroads Church totaling $813,142.17. He then allegedly used the funds for his own benefit and for the benefit of his parishioners. The thefts ocurred between November 2007 when he was hired until January 2009 when he was reportedly fired. The extent of the thefts were discovered in a June 2009 audit.

Read the story here, here and here.

Update (1/18/11): Sims was sentenced to 30 months in prison.

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