Church Employee Stole 40,000 From Lutheran Congregation to Fund Vacations and Shopping Sprees

Former Church Business Manager Indicted for Stealing Nearly $640,000 From North Dakota Lutheran Congregation

A former business manager at Faith Journey Lutheran Church in West Fargo, North Dakota, has been indicted on federal charges after allegedly embezzling nearly $640,000 over a five year period.

Carly Anne Tufte, who was hired as an administrative assistant in 2018 and later promoted to business manager, faces five counts of bank fraud and one count of access device fraud in U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota.

According to the nine page federal indictment, Tufte opened a First National Bank of Omaha credit card in both her name and the church's name shortly after her promotion in April 2019, directing statements to her personal residence.

Prosecutors allege she used the unauthorized card to fund personal vacations and clothing purchases, charging nearly $640,000 in non church related expenses between April 2019 and December 2024.

To conceal the scheme, Tufte reportedly withheld bank statements from the church treasurer, who was a certified public accountant, and created false journal entries to make it appear the church had higher expenses and lower bank balances.

She also allegedly used a Gate City Bank debit card connected to the church's general fund account to pay down her personal credit card debt.

The fraud unraveled in December 2024, when a new pastor informed Tufte that he planned to review the church's financial records. Just two days later, she abruptly resigned via email, citing her mental and physical well being.

Pastor Sue Koesterman addressed the congregation directly:

Our congregation and community deserve transparency, integrity, and accountability, and we are committed to upholding those values.

The church confirmed it has implemented additional financial safeguards and that ministry programs were not disrupted by the embezzlement. A federal grand jury returned the indictment in January 2026, and Tufte's trial is scheduled to begin April 14, 2026.

North Dakota Church Employee Charged With Federal Bank Fraud After Embezzling $640K in Congregation Funds

If convicted on all counts, Tufte faces possible forfeiture of all property derived from the fraudulent funds. The case serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of churches and religious institutions to financial fraud by trusted insiders.

The Crusader's Opinion

Nearly $640,000. That is money given by faithful Christians who sacrificed from their own paychecks to serve God and their community. Instead, it funded vacations and shopping sprees for someone they trusted with the church's books. This is not just theft. This is a betrayal of the Body of Christ. Every dollar stolen from that offering plate was a prayer answered with deceit. Churches across this nation must wake up and implement real financial accountability. Trust without verification is naivety, and the devil exploits naivety. Let justice be served fully, and let every congregation learn from this: guard the resources God's people entrust to you as if your eternal soul depends on it, because it does.

Take Action

• Contact your church leadership today and ask: "When was our last independent financial audit?" If there has not been one in over a year, request one immediately.
• Encourage your congregation to adopt dual signature requirements for all expenditures over $500 and ensure bank statements are reviewed by at least two people monthly.
• Report suspected church financial fraud to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov or your local FBI field office.
• Support organizations working to protect churches and ministries from fraud. Visit www.TheShepherdsShield.org to learn how you can help defend Christian communities.
• Share this story with your church board and small group to start a conversation about financial transparency and accountability in your own congregation.