Reverend DANIEL OKAFOR (photo courtesy of St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office)
A 44-year-old St. Tammany Parish priest is facing theft charges after he allegedly stole funds from an Abita Springs church. Lt. Suzanne Carboni with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office says they began their investigation into Reverend Daniel Okafor after the Archdiocese of New Orleans was contacted about discrepancies involving the finances at St. Jane de Chantal Catholic church.
“We learned that at least 30 checks that had been made out to the church parish, to St. Jane, had actually been deposited into the Reverend Daniel Okafor, who is a priest in that parish, into his personal account,” Carboni explained.
Carboni says investigators believe Reverend Okafor was diverting $21,000 in church funds for personal use for more than two and a half years. She says the priest was arrested this morning and faces multiple felony charges….
“He has been charged with theft of more than $5,000, less than $25,000; that is a felony. He’s been arrested on computer fraud, a felony, and monetary instrument abuse,” Carboni noted.
Carboni stated that this is an ongoing investigation, and additional charges are possible. Anyone who believes they may have been a victim of financial misconduct should contact the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office.
“If you think you may have written a check that may have been intended for a different purpose in the church, and it was used or may have been deposited into his personal account, to contact us and we will look into it,” Carboni said.
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