Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A Rochester woman has been sentenced for stealing over $400,000 from a local church. 

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Last month, 64-year-old Patricia Radich pleaded guilty to an amended criminal complaint containing 8 felony counts of theft by swindle. Court records say a financial audit, ordered by the church found "checks totaling $422,925.90 that were made out to Radich going back to 2013." 

An Olmsted County Judge on Monday signed off on the sentence agreed to in the plea deal, which calls for a stayed prison sentence, 90 days in jail, and more than $250,000 restitution. The sentence is a downward departure from state sentencing guidelines that was recommended by the cases’ prosecutor.

photo courtesy Kraus-Anderson
photo courtesy Kraus-Anderson
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Court records indicate Radich was a CPA and served as the volunteer treasurer for the church for 12 years. The theft of church funds was discovered after the church launched a major fundraiser in 2015 to cover the cost of remodeling projects and went to pay off all of the associated loans in 2020. 

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The criminal complaint stated that Radich "admitted taking the $183,189.03 over a four-year period. The charges say she admitted to the pastor that  she had a "gambling addiction" and spent the money at casinos. 

A law enforcement investigation also found "a large amount of funds that were withdrawn electronically and/or at ATMs at casinos." The complaint highlighted a single day during which Radich withdrew $10,500 at a casino, along with several days when Radich made cash withdrawals at casinos for amounts between $7,000 and $8,000.

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