For five years, Sherie Britton managed the PayPal account of a Rex church. And in that time frame she managed to steal $315,000 intended for church needs, civic events and the community.
Britton, 44, of McDonough, admitted in court Thursday she embezzled the funds between February 2012 and 2017 after initially lying to authorities about the allegations, U.S. Attorney John Horn said in a news release.
“Stealing from your employer is always a crime,” he said, “but it’s more reprehensible when the money consists of donations for charitable purpose.”
Authorities first spoke to the former church administrator Feb. 3. In that interview, she lied to FBI agents and told them she had permission to transfer church funds and that the money was being spent on church events.
Britton eventually confessed she spent the money on “extravagant” vacations, clothes and home furnishings.
Authorities discovered Britton stole $257,000 in donations from the PayPal account and $58,000 from the payroll account.
Officials did not say how long Britton worked for the church or release the church’s name.
She will be sentenced Nov. 7.
In other news:
About the Author
