The Christian Post reports that Kristen Marie Battocletti, a former administrative assistant with the St. Francis of Assisi University Parish, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, is facing up to 20 years of imprisonment after agreeing to plead guilty to stealing approximately $300,000 from the church.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama, Battocletti was charged yesterday (7/23/2024) with a single count of wire fraud for the theft of funds during the period of April to October 2023.
According to federal charging documents, the money was used to purchase more than $220,000 in TikTok Coins and to pay personal expenses.
The Christian Post article may be read in full HERE.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Northern District of Alabama issued the following press release (updated on July 23, 2024):
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – A former administrative assistant at St. Francis of Assisi University Parish in Tuscaloosa has been charged with embezzling money from the church, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Carlton L. Peeples.
A one-count Information filed this week in United States District Court charges Kristen Marie Battocletti, 35, with one count of wire fraud.
According to the Information, Battocletti engaged in a scheme to defraud St. Francis of Assisi University Parish from April to October 2023. St. Francis is part of the Catholic Diocese of Birmingham. Battocletti stole approximately $300,000 from St. Francis, using the funds to purchase more than $220,000 in TikTok Coins and to pay personal expenses. Battocletti used the TikTok Coins to send digital gifts to TikTok content creators.
According to the plea agreement, also filed this week, Battocletti has agreed to plead guilty to the charge. The Court will set a date for Battocletti to enter her guilty plea.
The maximum penalty for wire fraud is 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Edward J. Canter is prosecuting the case.
An Information contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
My brothers and sisters, social media addiction is very real, as evidenced in this situation. Although some of the embezzled funds were reportedly used for Battocletti’s personal expenses, as would typically be the case in such thefts, purchasing more than $220K in TikTok Coins demonstrates how addictive and evil social media can become.
Stealing from one’s employer is morally wrong on every level. Doing so from the church is particularly disturbing. This also serves as a good reminder for church leaders, Catholic or Protestant, to assure that there are sufficient administrative and audit-related controls in place, and that job duties, particularly when involving money, are intentionally divided and subject to oversight by more than one person.
Trust is godly; blind trust is unwise.
The affected church, through insurance and otherwise, is expected to fully recover, so let’s pray for Ms. Battocletti – that lessons are learned, repentance is real, and that the mercy and love of God prevails! To God goes the glory!
The bible is clear that we are not to steal, as such puts us in league with the evil one, who has come to steal, kill and destroy:
Leviticus 19:11 (NKJV)
“You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another.”
John 10:10 (NKJV)
“The thief [the devil or Satan] does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
The bible tells us of God’s mercy and that He will forgive those who repent of their sin:
Psalm 86:5 (NKJV)
“For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, [a]nd abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.”
Matthew 9:13 (NKJV)
“But go and learn what this means: ‘I [Jesus] desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
The bible also tells that it is God’s will for ALL to come unto repentance and be saved:
2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV)
“The Lord is not slack [slow, tardy] concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering [patient] toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance [emphasis mine].”