Bookkeeper accused of defrauding parish of over $250,000

RCMP say they received a complaint in July of 2019 about financial irregularities at the parish

CITYnews halifax \ Meghan Groff

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Police are accusing a bookkeeper of defrauding a parish in West Chezzetcook of over a quarter of a million dollars over the course of 11 and a half years.

RCMP say they received a complaint in July of 2019 about financial irregularities at the church.

Soon after, the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth launched an internal investigation, handing their findings over to police in December 2020.

After a long investigation, police now believe that between July 2008 and January 2020, a 47-year-old woman committed frauds in excess of $250,000.

“The woman used her position as the parish’s bookkeeper to access funds from the parish’s bank accounts for personal use and established recurring payments made to various establishments offering products and services within Nova Scotia,” Mounties allege in a news release.

Patricia Dixon of East Chezzetcook was arrested last week and has been charged with fraud over $5,000 (3 counts), possession of property obtained by crime (3 counts), trafficking in identity information, identity fraud, falsification of books and documents and uttering forged documents.

She has been was released from custody on an appearance notice and is scheduled in Dartmouth Provincial Court on May 3 at 9:30 a.m.

RCMP say investigators are still gathering information and evidence in the case.