A South Carolina woman has been arrested after authorities accused her of embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from a local church and failing to report the funds on her taxes.
According to the South Carolina Department of Revenue, 55-year-old Shelley C. Strickland was taken into custody on March 16 in Greenwood County. She faces seven counts of tax evasion in connection with the case.
Investigators say that between 2018 and 2024, Strickland worked at First Baptist Church of Ware Shoals, where she allegedly misappropriated approximately $445,000. Authorities claim the money was used for personal expenses.
Officials further allege that Strickland failed to report the embezzled funds as income on her South Carolina individual tax returns during those years, leading to the charges.
If convicted, she could face up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine for each count.
Strickland is currently being held at the Greenwood County Detention Center while awaiting bond. Authorities have not released additional details about the case.
