KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. — A Miami man has been charged with stealing more than $440,000 from St. Christopher’s By-the-Sea Episcopal Church.
Francisco Enrique Gomez, 29, was arrested by detectives on January 15, 2026, and faces charges of first-degree grand theft and organizing a scheme to defraud. He appeared before 11th Circuit Judge David Young the following day and was released after posting a $20,000 bond. An arraignment hearing is scheduled for March 16, 2026.
According to the complaint, Gomez, who served as the church’s bookkeeper, allegedly made unauthorized withdrawals from the church’s bank accounts between September 2024 and June 26, 2025. The missing funds, totaling more than $440,000, were discovered by the parish in August 2025, prompting the Key Biscayne Police Department to launch an investigation.
Authorities are continuing to review the church’s financial records as part of the ongoing investigation.
