Long Island Woman Indicted in Connection to $450K Church Embezzlement

A woman has been arraigned on charges of allegedly embezzling over $450,000 while serving as an assistant to a pastor at the Diocese of Rockville Centre and St. William the Abbot Church. Iris Gomez, 43, of East Islip, faces counts of grand larceny and criminal tax fraud, according to prosecutors.

Gomez worked at the Roman Catholic Diocese and St. William the Abbot Church in Seaford between June 2019 and January 2022. Prosecutors allege she used her position to steal funds, depositing checks into a limited liability corporation and falsely claiming it provided services to the religious institutions.

Nassau County DA Anne Donnelly stated that Gomez allegedly concealed her control of the corporation and manipulated financial records to mislead the institutions. The indictment highlights the misuse of trust and the potential harm to the church’s financial integrity.

Gomez pleaded not guilty and remains under pretrial services. She is scheduled to return to court on August 18. The case underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in religious organizations.

The accused is charged with embezzling more than $35,000 from the Diocese of Rockville Centre and over $425,000 from St. William the Abbot Church. The legal proceedings aim to ensure justice for the victims and uphold the sanctity of church finances.

Such actions not only breach the trust placed in church leaders but also reflect a failure in oversight and accountability. The case serves as a reminder of the need for vigilance in protecting the resources entrusted to religious institutions (Proverbs 31:8-9).

Source: Read the original report

Source record preserved at time of reporting.