Ex-Gesu business manager pleads guilty to stealing $525,000
9/5/2012The former business manager for Gesu Parish, who was charged with stealing more than $525,000 from the church over three years, pleaded guilty to criminal charges in federal court today.
Patricia Ann Stanz, 61, appeared in U.S. District Court in Toledo where she pleaded guilty to one count each of counterfeit securities and fraudulent use of access device.
She will be sentenced Jan. 14 by Judge James Carr.
Assistant U. S. Attorney Tom Karol said in court that the Stanz is accused of stealing more than $525,000 while employed at the West Toledo parish.
In particular, she is accused of creating and signing about 97 unauthorized checks totaling $295,000 that were drawn from the parish checking account.
He further alleged that she obtained a credit card that had been issued to Gesu Parish and used it for her own expenses, primarily cash advances.
Mr. Karol said that between September, 2008, and August, 2011, Stanz fraudulently obtained about $230,000.
Restitution would be required as part of the sentence.
Mr. Karol noted that a gambling addiction was ultimately the reason for the thefts.
Attorney Andy Hart, who was appointed to represent Stanz, said that the defense is still looking at the information to determine restitution. He told Magistrate Judge James Knepp II that although Stanz was pleading guilty to the charges, she was not necessarily agreeing to the amount of restitution.
Judge Knepp continued the $10,000 unsecured bond, including conditions that Stanz stay away from any legal or illegal gambling as well as have no contact with any gambling establishments or those associated with gambling.