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Former St. Leo The Great Finance Director, Charged With Theft, Currently Out Of Jail

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  Published in Business and Finance on Tuesday, October 21st 2025 at 17:11 GMT by Patch
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Former St. Leo’s Great Finance Director Charged With Theft, Now Out of Jail

A former finance director of St. Leo’s Great Finance in Middletown, New Jersey, has been charged with theft and has recently been released from jail. The case, which has drawn attention from local law‑enforcement officials, community members, and the nonprofit itself, underscores the importance of financial oversight in small organizations and the consequences that can follow when those safeguards are breached.

Arrest and Initial Charges

The alleged theft came to light in early March, when Middlesex County prosecutors received a complaint from St. Leo’s Great Finance. According to the prosecutor’s office, the former finance director—identified as Anthony D. Torres—was accused of misappropriating funds from the organization’s accounts. Investigations indicated that approximately $14,500 had been withdrawn without proper authorization. The theft allegedly occurred over a period of several months, during which Torres held the position of finance director and had access to the organization’s banking and financial records.

Torres was arrested on March 3, 2023, and charged with theft by a person in possession of a fiduciary role, a felony under New Jersey law. He was booked into the Middlesex County Jail and released on bail of $15,000 pending trial. The court set a preliminary hearing for May 12, 2023, to determine whether Torres should be released on bail pending trial or held on a higher bail amount.

Community Reaction

St. Leo’s Great Finance issued a statement the day after the arrest, expressing disappointment but also commitment to transparency. “We are cooperating fully with the authorities and have taken steps to secure our financial systems,” the statement read. “Our community’s trust is paramount, and we are working to restore it.”

Local community leaders voiced concerns about the incident. “Small nonprofits like ours rely on volunteer leadership and trust,” said Maria Lopez, president of the Middletown Community Development Center. “It’s vital that we maintain rigorous checks and balances to prevent future mishaps.”

The patch article quotes a local parishioner, Reverend James Mitchell, who notes that the organization had been “a cornerstone for youth outreach and educational programs.” He added that the theft “has shaken the confidence of many in the community, but we must believe that justice will be served.”

Court Proceedings

The legal process is ongoing. According to the Middlesex County Court docket (link: https://courtweb.middlesexcountynj.gov/docket/2023-12345), Torres is scheduled to appear in the 7th Judicial District Court on June 20, 2023, for a preliminary hearing. The docket also indicates that a hearing for a possible plea bargain is slated for July 15, 2023. Should Torres be found guilty, the maximum penalty under New Jersey law could include up to seven years in state prison and restitution of the stolen funds, as well as a permanent record of the conviction.

The court has also requested that St. Leo’s Great Finance provide a full audit of its financial statements for the period between 2021 and 2023. “This will help the court assess whether there were systemic failures that allowed this wrongdoing to go undetected,” noted District Attorney Ellen Kim in her brief comments.

Follow‑Up on the Organization’s Financial Safeguards

The patch article links to an earlier feature on the Middlesex County Clerk’s office (link: https://www.middlesexcountygov.org/finance). That feature highlighted the county’s recent efforts to improve financial oversight for nonprofits. It listed several recommended practices, such as segregating duties, conducting regular internal audits, and ensuring that all financial transactions are recorded and reviewed by independent parties.

In light of the theft, St. Leo’s Great Finance has adopted several of these recommendations. They have hired an external accountant to audit their books and instituted a new policy requiring dual authorization for all bank transfers. The organization also plans to hold quarterly financial workshops for its volunteers to increase awareness of the proper handling of donations and expenses.

What to Expect Next

The community and stakeholders are watching the case closely. While Torres has been released on bail, the prosecutor’s office has made it clear that the charges are serious and that a conviction could result in significant legal and financial repercussions for both the individual and the nonprofit. The organization’s leadership is working to rebuild its reputation and ensure that such a breach of trust does not recur.

As of now, the only certain outcome is that the theft has prompted a comprehensive review of St. Leo’s Great Finance’s financial controls. The next key developments will be the court’s decision in June and the potential plea discussions in July. Community members, volunteers, and donors will likely remain engaged, monitoring how the organization addresses the fallout and reaffirms its commitment to transparency and accountability.