NASSAU COUNTY, FL — A Florida woman has been arrested for allegedly embezzling over $570,000 from a local church during her 11-year tenure as financial secretary.
According to the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office, 44-year-old Melissa Ganey English was charged with grand theft over $100,000 after a detailed investigation into financial discrepancies at Amelia Baptist Church.
The case began when two newly appointed church financial committee members noticed inconsistencies in bank records. Further examination of a church-issued credit card linked to English revealed hundreds of unauthorized personal expenses.
The church promptly terminated English’s employment and hired an independent contractor to audit financial records from 2019 to 2024. The audit uncovered a long-running pattern of fraudulent transactions:
2019: Nearly $40,000 embezzled through various unauthorized payments.
2020: About $90,000 misused via credit card charges and inflated payroll.
2021: Over $100,000 spent on Amazon, SeaWorld tickets, hotel stays, flights, and more.
2022: Nearly $125,000 used for cruise lines, Airbnb rentals, and concert tickets.
2023: Just over $123,000 spent on retail, travel, and personal purchases.
2024: More than $90,000 misappropriated, including spending on cruises and sports events.
The Sheriff’s Office said the investigation shows a clear pattern of financial abuse. English now faces a first-degree felony charge for knowingly and unlawfully using church funds for personal gain.
