Merrick B. Garland, Attorney General | https://www.justice.gov/
Merrick B. Garland, Attorney General | https://www.justice.gov/
U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Heather Darrey to 27 months in federal prison for wire fraud. In addition to her prison term, the court ordered a forfeiture of $875,323.19, reflecting the amount she embezzled. Darrey had entered a guilty plea on June 6, 2024.
Court documents reveal that Darrey was employed as the Records and Finance Manager at Church #1. During her tenure, she exploited her position by creating fraudulent bank checks from the church's business account. These checks were made payable to herself and others, including her mortgage company and creditors. To cover up her actions, Darrey falsified data in the church's accounting software.
The investigation uncovered that Darrey embezzled $875,323.19 in total. The funds were used primarily for personal expenses such as mortgage payments, car and boat loans, credit card bills for clothing, dining out, vacations, and concert tickets.
The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service alongside the Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Greg Pizzo, Suzanne Nebesky, and Jordan Howard.
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