Dear Saint Matthew Community,

It is with a heavy heart that I write to inform you more fully of the financial irregularities discovered and reported to you last December. As you recall, at that time, a full report was made to the civil authorities and the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. We have cooperated fully with the FBI and were not able to share any additional information while their investigation was in process.

The FBI has now completed their investigation. As a result, Marie Carson, our former business manager, has signed an agreement in which she pleaded guilty to wire fraud for illegally transferring funds from parish accounts in excess of $500,000 into her personal bank account. This transfer of funds occurred for more than a decade. Ms. Carson appeared in Federal Court on Wednesday, November 9^th.

Upon discovery of the theft, we enacted new internal accounting controls to provide assurance that all funds are safeguarded. We carry fidelity insurance to cover fraud and theft losses and we have received payment to cover the documented loss. It is with deep sadness to report that these serious events have occurred. I humbly ask for your prayers for our parish and those involved as we move forward.

In Christ’s peace,
Rev. Msgr. William F. Stumpf
Pastor