Posted on 12/11/2014 5:52:25 AM PST by Gamecock
Old Westbury, NY - December 10, 2014 - Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced the arrest and arraignment today of a Westbury man on a grand jury indictment for stealing more than $360,000 from the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Old Westbury where he served as treasurer.
Joaquim Canario was arrested today by DA investigators and arraigned before Nassau County Court Judge Philip Grella on the charge of Grand Larceny in the 2nd Degree (a C felony).
The defendant was released on his own recognizance. If convicted of the top charge, Canario faces a maximum sentence of five to 15 years in prison. He is due back in court on Jan. 20, 2015.
“People have the right to exercise their freedom of religion without fearing that their house of worship will be targeted by someone for their own selfish financial gain,” DA Rice said. “That this defendant was a member and trusted employee of this congregation makes his crime all the more inconceivable for men and women of faith.”
DA Rice said that from April 2008 to January 2012, Canario stole $366,730.12 from a bank account belonging to Seventh Day Adventist Church in Old Westbury, where he worked as the church’s treasurer. The money was discovered missing as a result of a review completed in June 2013 by the Greater New York Conference of Seventh Day Adventists, which oversees the church.
The case was referred to DA Rice’s office in November 2013 by a church member. DA investigators revealed that Canario had used the stolen funds for various personal and non-church related matters, including mortgage payments on property he owned.
Canario also used the funds to wire money to banks in South Africa and England as payments toward a fictitious multi-million dollar inheritance for which he was informed that he was the beneficiary.
Assistant District Attorney Mary Ruddy of DA Rice’s Government and Consumer Fraud Bureau is prosecuting the case. Canario is represented by Larry Flowers, Esq.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.
His speciali cell in hell awaits his arrival
It amazes me that people can be this stupid.
> Canario also used the funds to wire money to banks in South Africa and England as payments toward a fictitious multi-million dollar inheritance for which he was informed that he was the beneficiary.
Once again, criminals proven not to be the brightest bulbs in the room.
Greed makes people stupid.
He should have conversed with lowbridge, our resident expert on dealing with scammers.
I’m surprised this doesn’t happen more often. Churches are notoriously bad at having even the most basic types of accounting controls that businesses have. Many times, they have one treasurer who is not overseen by anyone. This is a good argument for why your church should spend the $$$$ to have an audit every once in a while.
Its amazing this gag still works.
Most would be amazed at how often this happens. It’s probably because of the trusting nature of Christians with regard to the brother or sister the Church appoints to be their treasurer or bookkeeper. I know I read an article about this happening at some church at least once a year. Churches should be very prudent about the security controls they put on their financial affairs.
Should have regular audits by outside firms, a different firm each time.
What a dumb-@ass. Sounds like he got hooked on that scam and "borrowed" money, assuming he'd pay it back when his ship came in.
Hoe about Chelsea Clinton’s father-in-law, Ed Mezvinsky? http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/father-groom-figure-chelsea-clintons-wedding/story?id=9211229
What would you expect from someone following such a vile, false “religion” like 7th day adventurist.
You are correct.
Also churches needs internal controls on who can do what.
I’ve been in churches where to person who kept the books couldn’t write checks. All checks over a certain amount had to be signed by two elders, and the teaching elder didn’t count.
That said, when we left, the incoming accused us of stealing roofing shovels and a table saw
....we had passed them on to another local church who was repairing on a budget
charming den of vipers, the lot
Pardon the abrupt nature of my contacting you. Business associates of mine have informed me that you are an honorable man that can be trusted. Please understand, my contact with you must be held in strictest confidence. Public knowledge of this situation could result in a lost opportunity worth of millions of dollars for both of us! My dearly departed husband....
What would you expect from someone following such a vile, false “religion” like 7th day adventurist.
I expect that it happens in Synagogues, Catholic and Baptist churches alike. I expect that you have stolen.
But hey, at least you are better than those vile, false Adventists.
**for stealing more than $360,000 from the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Old Westbury where he served as treasurer. **
I thought SDA believed in the Commandments.
Like father, like son?
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