Charles Williams, Jr., Wire Fraud, Louisiana 2019

New Orleans Church Official Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud

NEW ORLEANS - Charles Williams, Jr., 50, entered a guilty plea on December 18, 2019, to Wire Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343. The maximum penalty for this crime is 20 years imprisonment.

According to documents filed in Federal Court, the defendant was elected Senior Warden of St. Luke's Episcopal Church in New Orleans. In his role as Senior Warden, Williams was responsible for paying all of St. Luke's bills, including insurance, salaries, and utilities.

Williams took over the finances of the church and reduced or eliminated other church members' access to church finances shortly after becoming the Senior Warden at St. Luke's. He did not share church bank statements with other church members in an effort to conceal his embezzlement of church funds and transferred church funds from one bank account to another account before withdrawing the funds. During his tenure, Williams embezzled approximately $89,000 from St. Luke's in his capacity as Senior Warden.

Williams deposited much of the money into his various Chase accounts and used some of the stolen money to support his pizza restaurant located in the Esplanade Mall. On August 29, 2018, FBI special agents interviewed Williams. During the interview, he denied that bank records would show the money for a $2,500 cashier's check coming from a St. Luke's account, claiming it came from his personal account.

The investigation showed, however, that on February 21, 2018, he had withdrawn $2,900 from St. Luke's operating account ending x1224 and then used $2,500 of those funds to purchase the cashier's check. He also used St. Luke's money for his business and personal use.

Williams will be sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Lance M. Africk on April 15, 2020. He faces up to 3 years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 following his release from prison.

U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Supervisor of the Financial Crimes Unit.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edla/pr/former-new-orleans-church-official-pleads-guilty-wire-fraud