Nassau DA: Church bookkeeper stole $180,000

A bookkeeper is charged with embezzling more than $180,000 from St. Mary’s Church in Roslyn Harbor, authorities said. 

Therese Iuzzolino, 45, of Merrick, was arraigned Tuesday on charges of second-degree grand larceny and four counts of first-degree falsifying business records, Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas said in a news release.

Singas said from December 2011 to April 2017, Iuzzolino allegedly stole $183,203.64 from the church by making online payments from its bank account for various personal credit cards and by creating several electronic check vouchers. Some of that money came from the church’s collections from parishioners.

“St. Mary’s parish is a pillar of the Roslyn Harbor community, and this defendant’s alleged selfish actions betrayed the trust placed in her as the church’s bookkeeper,” Singas said. “Stealing from churches compromises the good work they do to serve our communities, and I’m grateful to the leaders at St. Mary’s for their cooperation throughout our investigation.”

At the time of the alleged theft, Iuzzolino worked part time for the church. Her responsibilities included preparing QuickBooks checks, maintaining the ledger in the accounting software, reviewing invoices and reconciling bank statements, authorities said.

Iuzzolino allegedly falsified records by deleting deposit and withdrawal entries to conceal the theft.

The alleged embezzlement was discovered in May 2017 after the bank called the church regarding a suspicious $5,000 check drawn from a church account. Iuzzolino was later fired.

Authorities believe Iuzzolino spent the money on payments to a jewelry and an automobile dealer, at toy stores, gun shops, on dental expenses, computers, fast food and entertainment. 

Iuzzolino’s attorney, J. Ceasar Galarza, said she is a devoted mother and wife and a wonderful woman.

“She categorically and unconditionally denies the allegations leveled against her by the Nassau County District Attorney,” Galarza said. “She has the full support of her family, and we look forward to addressing these charges in court.”

A spokesman for the Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre thanked the district attorney's office for investigating the thefts. "We pray this brings closure to this matter and healing to the Church of Saint Mary," spokesman Sean Dolan said.

Iuzzolino has a $30,000 bond (or $15,000 cash) and is due back in court Sept. 11. She is facing a 5- to 15-year prison sentence.