The Lutz congregation is missing $17,106 in checks.
By STAFF WRITER
Published September 9, 2005
TAMPA - A 61-year-old volunteer treasurer for a Lutz church was charged with stealing more than $17,000 from his congregation to pay his personal bills.
Charles Shaw Cancelliere of 2727 W Fletcher Ave. was charged with taking $17,106 from All Saints Lutheran Church in Lutz between January and August of this year by writing checks made payable to "cash" and paying his personal bills, according to Tampa police.
The church did not give him permission to use its money to pay his own bills, police said, and when confronted by his pastor, Cancelliere admitted taking the money and later faxed a promissory note agreeing to pay back $16,616, which the church did not accept.
Cancelliere had volunteered to be the church's treasurer in January knowing he would not be paid, police said.
Cancelliere was charged with grand theft and booked into the county jail, where he remained Friday on $2,000 bail.
