CLEVELAND – In a stunning betrayal of trust, Michelle Medrick, the former business manager and comptroller for Catholic Charities of Cleveland, has been sentenced to more than five years in federal prison after being caught embezzling $2 million from the organization.
Acting U.S. Attorney David A. Sierleja and FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony announced the sentence, which includes 62 months behind bars and a $2.4 million restitution order imposed by U.S. District Judge Christopher Boyko.
The 58-year-old Medrick of North Royalton pleaded guilty to bank fraud earlier this year. Prosecutors revealed that she began stealing from Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Cleveland as early as 2008 and continued until last year.
In her role, Medrick was responsible for payroll, accounts payable, and other financial transactions at Parmadale, a facility that offers services to a variety of clients. She is accused of converting proceeds from client-agency and donor checks into cash, which she then funneled into her own bank account.
According to court documents, Medrick wrote over 1,400 checks payable to cash, falsely identifying herself as the agency’s chief financial officer to withdraw funds from Catholic Charities’ bank accounts. The Diocese of Cleveland uncovered the fraud and promptly reported it to federal authorities, demonstrating a commitment to justice.
Sierleja emphasized that Medrick’s actions targeted the vulnerable men, women, and children who rely on the services provided by Catholic Charities. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Hollingsworth and Alex Rokakis are handling the case, which was investigated by the FBI.
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Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption|White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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