JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mo. — A former secretary and bookkeeper at a church in DeSoto, Missouri, turned herself in on Friday after she was accused of embezzling at least $400,000 from the parish.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of Missouri, Corie Boyer, 49, stole parish funds in multiple ways for personal expenses between January 2017 and March 2024.
The indictment said she used parish funds to pay personal credit card bills and used parish credit cards for expenses including airfare for herself and others, cruises, college tuition payments, shopping, taxes, and rent.
Boyer additionally wrote checks to herself and stole from offerings to the church. Boyer allegedly covered up her thefts by falsifying parish records.
Boyer was indicted on Mar. 6 on four counts of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering. She pleaded not guilty in court on Friday afternoon.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. Money laundering is punishable by up to 10 years in prison or the same fine.