A former administrator and spouse of a former police chief has been convicted of stealing greater than $360,000 from a Northern California church via a multi-year embezzlement scheme affecting the church's youth ministry and meals pantry.
A federal choose on Monday discovered 38-year-old Chanell Easton, initially from Oklahoma Metropolis, responsible of two counts of id theft.
In October, Easton pleaded responsible to 22 counts of wire fraud however pleaded not responsible to the remaining two counts of id theft. She was sentenced after a one-day trial earlier than U.S. District Choose John A. Mendez. Sentencing is scheduled for June 25.
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In keeping with prosecutors from the U.S. Lawyer's Workplace for the Japanese District of California, between 2013 and 2018, Easton used a number of bank cards affiliated with the Yuba Metropolis Presbyterian Church to have interaction in a five-year embezzlement scheme.
Prosecutors famous that the previous church worker used church funds to repay numerous bank cards. Purchases had been made at hair salons, retail shops, on-line retailers and trip leases. She additionally purchased VIP tickets to the live performance.
One of many playing cards Easton allegedly used belonged to the church's youth ministry pastor. She used his id to make unauthorized private purchases on Zappos.com. Prosecutors say Easton's use of the youth minister id allowed her to deflect suspicion away from herself.
Easton can also be accused of transferring cash instantly from church financial institution accounts to her private account, paying off her private bank card stability and paying her mobile phone supplier for private payments and new telephones.
As well as, the previous church worker stole cash from the church by writing checks to others to cowl their private bills and writing checks to herself, forging the signatures of the church treasurer and the chief meals pantry volunteer.
Easton is the spouse of former Marysville, California Police Division Chief Aaron Easton, who left after going through a sexual assault investigation stemming from a 2008 incident. Particulars surrounding the demise of Aaron Easton's ex-wife, Sara Easton, stay a thriller. She died in 2015 from a gunshot wound.
Easton faces a most statutory sentence of 20 years in jail, a $250,000 positive for every rely of wire fraud and a compulsory two-year sentence for every rely of id theft.
Adam Gasner, Easton's protection lawyer, informed McClatchy Information on Wednesday that “Easton beforehand expressed regret and pleaded responsible when she pleaded responsible to fraud in reference to the theft on this case.”
As for Easton impersonating the pastor utilizing his identify and bank card, Gasner claims it was theft and bank card fraud, however not aggravated id theft as a result of different church members had been allowed to make use of the pastor's card.
“We respect the choice of the choose who discovered in any other case,” Gasner mentioned.
Nicole VanDyke is a reporter for The Christian Publish.
