Rogers woman charged with swindling church out of $26K

An administrative assistant at the Mary Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Rogers has been charged with swindling the church out of about $26,000.

A parish priest called the police to report thousands of dollars in church funds were believed to have been stolen by 49-year-old Julie Kay Rouillard, according to a criminal complaint filed Friday filed in Hennepin County District Court.

Rouillard did bookkeeping for the church and its elementary school, managing vendor invoices and disbursements.

According to the complaint, Rouillard used church credit accounts dozens of times to buy items for her personal use. It also alleges that she manipulated the church payroll system to increase her medical and dental premium subsidies by more than $20,000.

The church and Rouillard did not respond to requests for comment.

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