Corie M. Boyer, a former secretary and bookkeeper at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in De Soto, has been charged for allegedly embezzling at least $400,000 from the church. She was indicted March 6 in the U.S. District Court in St. Louis on four counts of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering, court documents said.
Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Money laundering is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Boyer, 49, of the Jefferson County portion of Fenton, pleaded not guilty to the charges on March 14. She was released from custody on her own recognizance, which means she agreed to appear in court and was released without posting bond.
Attorney Mark Hammer of the Hammer Law Firm in Chesterfield is representing Boyer. Hammer did not immediately return a call to his on Tuesday, the Leader deadline, and Boyer could not be reached for comment.
When Boyer worked at the church, she was responsible for maintaining the St. Rose of Lima Parish’s books and records, organizing certain parish fundraisers and helping collect and count the weekly offertory.
From at least January 2017 through March 2024, she reportedly used the church’s bank accounts and credit cards to make payments on her personal credit cards. She also allegedly used the church’s funds and credit cards to pay for airfare for herself and relatives; cruises; college tuition; shopping; taxes and rent. She also wrote checks to herself and stole cash from the offertory and covered up the thefts by falsifying church financial records, according to the indictment.
In a message to St. Rose of Lima parishioners on June 23, 2024, Pastor Rodger Fleming announced the church had fired Boyer after an “extensive investigation into suspected financial impropriety.”
Fleming said shortly after he was assigned to the church in August 2023, he noticed irregularities and reported his concerns to the Archdiocese of St. Louis, and an internal investigation was launched.
Lisa Shea, an Archdiocese of St. Louis spokesperson, said she could not comment on the specifics of the case.
“However, we wish to acknowledge and thank the U.S. Attorneys’ office and the FBI for their diligence in uncovering the details of the criminal conduct,” she said. “The Archdiocese of St. Louis, St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church and our team of private external investigators, including retired federal law enforcement agents, contacted the U.S. Attorney’s Office with our concerns, cooperated fully in the investigation and will continue to do so in the prosecution of charges.”
The case was investigated by the FBI and the IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow is prosecuting the case.