Former DC Catholic School Official Arrested, Charged With Embezzling $45,000

Police arrested a former D.C. Catholic school assistant superintendent Wednesday on the charge of embezzling $45,000 and three counts of mail fraud.

Law enforcement officials allege Kenneth Gaughan fabricated vendors and invoices for crisis intervention and anti-bullying programs and also created mass-texting programs from June 2010 through April 2018, which he used to embezzle the money. The Archdiocese of Washington alerted authorities concerning Gaughan in April 2017 after discovering “financial irregularities that suggested possible mishandling of archdiocesan funds.” (RELATED: Vigano Speaks Out For First Time Since Accusing Pope, Says Francis Is Guilty Of Slander)

“Gaughan allegedly opened virtual and private mailboxes in order to receive the checks that (the archdiocese) issued to pay for the fraudulent invoices that Gaughan manufactured and transmitted to ADW officials,” read a statement from Robert Hur, the U.S. attorney for the District of Maryland, and Gordon Johnson, an FBI special agent, according to Crux Now.

Gaughan allegedly “incorporated two companies using names that were almost identical to those of real companies and opened bank accounts in the names of those companies,” the statement continued, adding that he filed payment invoices for the two companies and “deposited the checks issued by ADW into the bank accounts he controlled, and converted the money to his personal use.”

The archdiocese issued a statement concerning Gaughan as well, saying it placed him on administrative leave and contacted the FBI after conducting an investigation of his actions.

“Gaughan was put on administrative leave and subsequently ceased employment with the archdiocese. The archdiocese conducted a comprehensive internal investigation and promptly contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which undertook a thorough review of the financial issues,” the statement said, according to National Catholic Reporter.

“Responsible stewardship of the financial gifts generously entrusted to the church by the faithful is a responsibility that the archdiocese takes very seriously,” the statement added.

If convicted, Gaughan faces a potential sentence of 20 years for each mail fraud charge.

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