Franklin Woman Accused of Stealing Over $100,000 From Church

| September 2, 2015

crime photoFRANKLIN, Pa. (EYT) – A Franklin woman is facing charges after she allegedly stole more than $100,000.00 from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod in Oil Creek Township.

According to a criminal complaint, police began investigating the theft of money from the synod on July 7, 2014.

Synod representatives reported to police suspecting bishop’s assistant Mary A. Housholder, 64, of Franklin, of taking money from the organization. Housholder was responsible for bookkeeping and accounting of funds received, for funds sent to the church in Chicago, and for funds through the church’s Mission Investment Fund (MIF), the complaint indicates.

The church discovered a discrepancy in May 2013 between funds received in Chicago and those reportedly sent by the synod in Franklin and began to ask Housholder questions about the funds and conducting research into her bookkeeping and accounting, the complaint states.

This led to the discovery on May 7, 2013 that Housholder allegedly stole $50,000.00 from the synod’s MIF account by writing out a check to Claddagh Glen LLC, a business she owns, and the check was deposited into her Claddagh Glen LLC Northwest Savings Bank account, the complaint continues.

Approached, Says She Will Pay Money Back

Church leaders approached Housholder about the matter on June 9, 2014, but before they could say anything to her she allegedly admitted taking the $50,000.00 and said she was “in the process of paying it back,” the complaint states.

The church also discovered on May 2, 2013 Housholder allegedly stole $2,575 from the synod’s Northwest Savings Bank account by writing out a check to the MIF and depositing it into an account identified by the MIF as a “personal account,” according to the complaint.

Housholder made a payment of $5,000.00 from her Claddagh Glen LLC account to the synod on May 27, 2014 and another $5,000.00 from a separate account as payment for the $50,000.00 she had stolen more than a year before, the complaint states. She also paid the synod $38,000.00 from her Claddagh Glen LLC account on June 2 and another $2,000.00 from an MIF account.

Research, Search Warrant Reveal More Information

Research into Housholder’s bookkeeping and accounting methods allegedly showed the MIF’s account number was deleted to hide the fact funds were being diverted from the account. It was also discovered Housholder allegedly made unauthorized transactions on a debit card she was to use for the synod’s business, including “multiple withdraws of cash at ATMs and purchases of various merchants totaling in excess of $40,000.00,” the complaint states.

A search warrant was served at Northwest Savings Bank and allegedly found a check from Farmers National Bank for $8,348.93 and the “remitter” was “NWPA Synod” with the check written to the MIF account, but police noted the synod has never had any bank account with Farmers National Bank, the complaint indicates.

Another search warrant at Farmers National Bank showed an account was opened there under “NWPA synod” on January 6, 2012 with a check from PNC Bank for $50,012.50 which was a donation from an estate, and the bank had documents showing Housholder allegedly opened the account and various checks were written from the account and signed by Housholder. ON April 29, 2013 the account was closed and all money was removed, with the last transaction a check for $8,345.93 to NWPA synod, the complaint continues.

“From the evidence obtained in this investigation it shows that Housholder unlawfully took over $100,000.00 from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod,” the complaint states.

According to online court documents, Housholder faces the following charges:

  • Theft by unlawful taking of movable property – unclassified
  • Theft by deception through giving a false impression – Felony 3

Housholder was arraigned at 1:45 p.m. September 1 before District Judge Andrew Fish on $100,000.00 unsecured bail.

A preliminary hearing has been set for 8:30 a.m. September 9 in Venango County Central Court.


Copyright © 2024 EYT Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Any copying, redistribution or retransmission of the contents of this service without the express written consent of EYT Media Group, Inc. is expressly prohibited.

Category: Uncategorized