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| Photo courtesy of Gilchrist County S. O. |
The former pastor for the Cedar Key First Baptist Church was
arrested September 19, 2017, on a warrant that stemmed from an
investigation which began in late July. The Levy County Sheriff’s Office
Criminal Investigations Division received a request from a concerned citizen asking
LCSO to look into unusual charges occurring on the church’s operational expense
accounts. Investigators determined former Pastor Todd Anthony Pope (10-17-62)
not only utilized funds from these accounts for personal gain, but also opened
charge accounts, credit card accounts and gas charge accounts.
Investigators immediately identified a couple of unusual
charges on the church’s bank account. Pope, whom had been confronted by the
church in late June, resigned. The anonymous citizen did not know the extent of
the unauthorized charges until a more thorough examination of bank records was
conducted by LCSO investigators. Investigators discovered unauthorized ATM
withdrawals and charge cards opened in the church’s name with only Pope as the
authorized user.
In total, investigators determined Pope took approximately
$76,267.58 dollars through various means over a period of several years.
Investigators were able to secure a warrant for Pope’s arrest for scheme to
defraud, forgery/uttering forged bank checks and grand theft greater than
$20,000 but less than $99,999. Pope was arrested in Gilchrist County for the
Levy County warrant. His bond was set at $215,000.00.
This investigation is still on-going and additional charges
are expected to be filed at a later date.