A 67-year-old Bronx woman who worked as an accounts payable clerk was busted today after authorities accused her of embezzling more than $1 million from the Archdiocese of New York.
Anita Collins worked in the Archdiocese’s Manhattan headquarters and never informed her bosses that she’d been previously convicted of grand larceny in another case in 1999 when she worked for a temp agency.
The church never did a background check on Collins.
Joe Zwilling, a spokesman for the Archdiocese, said church officials reported to the Manhattan DA’s office last month that they had “uncovered what we initially believed to be the theft of at least $350,000.”
He said the theft was “uncovered by the Archdiocese and our outside auditors following the implementation of enhanced financial oversight controls and safeguards in 2011.”
Collins worked in accounts payable for the education finance office and was later promoted to work in its main office and manage the Archdiocese’s finances.
Cops say the fraud was elaborate. She sent the church invoices for fake services, then had the checks deposited into bank accounts she controlled.
Authorities said Collins allegedly issued 450 checks totaling less than $2,500 each to herself. Checks of $2,500 or less did not require approval from a supervisor.
Zwilling said the theft was “committed … using a sophisticated fraud to manipulate the accounts payable system in the Department of Education Finance Office. As a result of the investigation conducted by the Manhattan DA and with the full cooperation of the Archdiocese, it has been determined that the amount stolen is approximately $1 million.”
Collins had been an employee of the Archdiocese of New York since 2003 until her termination Dec. 6, when the fraud was uncovered.
“Because the Archdiocese seeks to always be good stewards of the money entrusted to us, we are continually working to improve our financial controls in order to prevent such occurrences from happening,” Zwilling said. “That is why the Archdiocese notified the Archdiocesan Finance Council at the time the theft was uncovered, and continues to follow their advice and counsel.
“Sadly, there will always be individuals who seek to exploit and circumvent whatever system is established, but we will remain vigilant in our oversight.”
In 1999, Collins had been convicted of grand larceny. She was sentenced to community service and 5 years probation, records show.
In a 2010 article in the Archdiocese newspaper Catholic New York, Collins was lauded for volunteering at St. Patrick’s Cathedral when Archbishop Timothy Dolan presided over a mass welcoming 600 people to Catholicism.
“It’s a wonderful day for the church of New York and it’s great to see this new blood entering the church,” Collins said of her faith. “Seeing people coming into the faith makes me feel good because my faith has always been a steadfast part of my life, and to me it’s very heartwarming to see this. I think it’s marvelous and I just love it.”