North Royalton Woman Charged in $2 Million Catholic Charities Scheme

CLEVELAND, OH – Michelle Medrick, 58, of North Royalton, is facing federal charges after allegedly pilfering approximately $2 million from Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Cleveland. The scheme, spanning roughly eight years, involved falsifying records and diverting funds for personal use, according to a criminal information filed in federal court.

U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, Carole S. Rendon, and Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Cleveland Office, announced the charge of bank fraud against Medrick. The indictment details a calculated effort to defraud Fifth Third Bank and illicitly obtain funds held by the financial institution between 2008 and March 2016.

Investigators allege that Medrick, who held positions as both Comptroller and Business Manager at Catholic Charities, converted client, agency, and donor checks into cash, pocketing the proceeds. To cover her tracks, she reportedly altered copies of the checks before placing them into the organization’s official records. This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision; it was a long-running, deliberate act of betrayal.

Notably, it was the Diocese of Cleveland itself that uncovered the fraudulent activity and proactively brought the information to federal authorities. Rendon emphasized the Diocese’s full cooperation in the investigation. “They are cooperating fully. The defendant will now be held accountable for her criminal activity,” she stated. This self-reporting is unusual and speaks to the organization’s commitment to integrity, despite the damage done.

If convicted, Medrick’s sentencing will be determined by the court, taking into consideration her criminal history (if any), her specific role in the offense, and the nature of the violation. While the statutory maximum sentence hasn’t been specified, prosecutors note sentences are usually below the maximum. Assistant U.S. Attorney M. Kendra Klump is prosecuting the case, based on an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

It’s crucial to remember that a criminal information is merely an accusation, and Medrick is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. She is entitled to a fair trial where the government bears the burden of proof. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it unfolds and bring you the unvarnished truth.