A former business manager at one of the region’s largest Catholic churches is under investigation in connection with the disappearance of $465,000 in church funds.
The ongoing investigation at St. Amelia Church in the Town of Tonawanda is the latest in a long line of thefts from local churches and religious organizations, going back decades.
In this case, the woman who is under investigation worked at St. Amelia for only a few months before the money was discovered missing, church officials said.
“There is an investigation at St. Amelia, and it is continuing,” Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn told The Buffalo News on Friday. “I can confirm that the information came to our office after it was uncovered by the church and the diocese. A substantial amount of money is missing. Other than that, I can’t comment further at this time.”
The investigation at St. Amelia was also confirmed Friday by a Buffalo Diocese spokesman, and another source with close knowledge of the investigation. The investigation into “fraud” and “misuse” of church funds was also discussed in the official St. Amelia church bulletin on Jan. 28.
Two sources with close knowledge of the investigation said approximately $465,000 is missing. Flynn declined to confirm or deny the amount of missing money beyond describing the amount as “substantial.”
The item in the church bulletin, titled “St. Amelia Fraud Case Update,” identifies Lisa Noble, a former church business manager, as the person who is under investigation. Flynn declined to identify by name the suspect who is under investigation.
“This past Tuesday there was a grand jury hearing to help bring formal charges against Lisa Noble,” the church bulletin item stated. “Lisa was hired in March … and broke protocol following her training which led to her being able to misuse funds at St. Amelia’s.”
In the bulletin item, church officials said they are trying to recover…
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