Shelly C. Strickland, 55, from Greenwood County, S.C., faces seven new tax evasion charges tied to embezzling over $445,000 from First Baptist Church Ware Shoals, where she worked as financial secretary from 2018 to 2024.
Embezzlement and Tax Scheme
She allegedly siphoned church funds for personal gain but failed to report the stolen money as income on her South Carolina tax returns, dodging at least $29,626 in state taxes. The South Carolina Department of Revenue brought the evasion counts after the initial theft bust.
Community Reaction
Local residents like Steven Gunnells called it “crazy,” while Daniel Franklin decried the betrayal: stealing from a church while pretending to serve the community. Ware Shoals, a small town, feels the sting of such inside-job fraud.
Legal Consequences
Each evasion count carries up to 5 years in prison or $10,000 fines. Strickland awaits a bond hearing at Greenville Detention Center. Classic case of church financial abuse in rural SC—trust eroded, restitution likely next. Outrage well-placed.
