A Florida woman has been accused of embezzling more than $570,000 from her church. An investigation into the actions of Melissa Ganey English, 44, began after finance committee members of Amelia Baptist Church in Fernandina Beach noticed discrepancies in the church’s bank statements.
English had been serving as the church’s financial secretary. She is accused of stealing money from the church to pay for personal expenses from 2019-2024.
English had worked at the church for nearly 11 years.
Amelia Baptist Church reported possible theft to the authorities after two new church financial committee members noticed discrepancies in the church’s bank documents and records. They traced the discrepancies to a church credit card issued to English.
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After making this discovery in October, the church terminated English’s employment and contracted a financial investigator to review the church’s transactions.
The investigator reportedly found numerous fraudulent transactions beginning in January 2019.
According to News4JAX, Nassau County detectives found that English allegedly stole nearly $40,000 in 2019, nearly $90,000 in 2020, more than $100,000 in 2021, nearly $125,000 in 2022, more than $123,000 in 2023, and more than $90,000 in 2024.
The funds English allegedly stole were used to pay for expenses such as Amazon and Walmart purchases, SeaWorld tickets, concert tickets, baseball tickets, shoes, hotel stays, flights, cruises, Airbnb rentals, a helicopter flight over the Grand Canyon, and other personal expenses.
“This is a significant breach of trust that has deeply impacted the church community,” said Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper. “The suspect abused her position of trust for years, using church funds meant for ministry and community service to instead fund her personal lifestyle. Our office is committed to seeking justice for the victims of this extensive financial crime.”
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Forrest Jones, a pastor at Amelia Baptist Church, called the situation “incredibly hurtful and difficult.”
