A man associated with a small, rural Northeast Kingdom church has been charged with embezzling “a large amount of money” over four separate occasions, state police say.
On the afternoon of August 4, troopers from the Vermont State Police St. Johnsbury barracks were notified by staff of East Burke Congregational Church that Gerald Prevost (72), had embezzled a large sum of money through means of the church.
Investigation revealed Prevost embezzled money on four separate occasions throughout the month of July. On Thursday, August 18, troopers made contact with Prevost and issued him a citation to appear in Caledonia County Superior Court, Criminal Division, to answer to the charge of Embezzlement.
The church belongs to the United Church of Christ (UCC) denomination. The pastor is Bruce Comiskey, the church website says. Burke is a Caledonia County town north of St. Johnsbury and adjacent to Lyndon.
Neither a motive for the embezzlement, nor information about Prevost’s role within the church, was provided by Vermont State Police.