WINSTON-SALEM — A former finance director at St. Leo the Great Church faces charges after she “fraudulently obtained” nearly $28,000 from the church, according to the Winston-Salem Police Department.
Marilyn Veronica Bertelsen, 61, was charged Friday with three felony counts of obtaining property by false pretense over a two-year period, police said.
Father Christopher Gober, pastor, informed parishioners shortly after the arrest, saying in an email that no other staff had been involved and that the insurance company had reimbursed St. Leo Church, so the parish felt no fiscal impact.
Shortly after his arrival as pastor in August 2020, Gober said the Diocese of Charlotte conducted a routine financial audit that found discrepancies in claimed reimbursements that were paid to Bertelsen. Police said they began an investigation in January 2021 and determined that Bertelsen had fraudulently obtained a total of $27,930.03 between February 2018 and March 2020.
Bertelsen, who resigned from the parish in November 2020, was taken to the Forsyth County Law Enforcement Detention Center on Friday, June 10, and released the same day on a $7,500 bond, with a preliminary court date of June 13.
“Personally, I want to say how much I appreciate your continued support since my arrival,” Father Gober told parishioners in his email. “And, while I am grateful this situation has been resolved, I am mindful of its impact on people’s lives. I kindly ask you to pray for everyone affected by this matter.”
— Catholic News Herald