Church Bookkeeper from Clover Pleads Guilty

COLUMBIA, SC—United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Sandra A Stroupe, age 67, of Clover, South Carolina, has entered a guilty plea in federal court in Columbia to mail fraud, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1341. United States District Judge Margaret B. Seymour of Columbia accepted the guilty plea and will impose sentence after she has reviewed the presentence report, which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that Sandra Stroupe was the church secretary and bookkeeper for Clover ARP Church for 38 years. At a point in time no later than 2006, the defendant began to siphon funds from the church for her own personal use. Using a scheme that took advantage of the mail, the defendant unlawfully obtained approximately 650k funds from the church.

Mr. Nettles stated the maximum penalty for mail fraud is imprisonment for 20 years and/or a fine of $250,000.

The case was investigated by agents of the FBI. Assistant United States Attorney James (Jim) Hunter May of the Columbia Office is prosecuting the case.