Photo: Nassau County Sheriff's Office
A Florida woman has been accused of embezzling over $570,000 from Amelia Baptist Church, where she worked as the financial secretary for 11 years. The Nassau County Sheriff's Office arrested 44-year-old Melissa Ganey English on charges of grand theft over $100,000, a first-degree felony.
The alleged embezzlement occurred between January 2019 and October 2024. According to the Nassau County Sheriff's Office, English used a church-issued credit card for personal expenses, including Amazon purchases, SeaWorld tickets, and a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon. She also reportedly gave herself unauthorized payroll payments.
The fraud was discovered when two new members of the church's financial committee noticed discrepancies in the bank records. They found that funds were significantly lower than expected and reported their findings to the church leadership. The church then hired a contractor to review all financial transactions, revealing numerous fraudulent charges.
English's embezzlement increased over the years, starting with nearly $40,000 in 2019 and reaching over $123,000 in 2023. In 2024, she allegedly embezzled more than $90,000 before being caught. The Miami Herald reported that English was arrested in Baker County on a warrant.
Despite the financial loss, Amelia Baptist Church remains committed to its mission and values. Church leadership stated, "While the last few months have been incredibly hurtful and difficult, it would be easy to become distracted from our main mission as a church."