Manatee County church fraud: 8 arrested in massive theft ring

Deputies arrested eight people after uncovering a widespread mail theft scheme that allegedly stole tithes from at least 17 Manatee County churches, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.Manatee church fraud arrestsThe Manatee County Sheriff's Office arrested eight people linked to an organized scheme that intercepted checks mailed to local houses of worship. Those facing charges are:Yucmercy Espinosa ObregonLuis Miguel Sanchez SantosLisaida Castro GonzalezIsmery Ferrer AlonsoLuis Enrique Valdes CamejoDayanis Leon HernandezDuvier Hernandez CanizarezIsidro Gonzalez GomezTheir charges include organized scheme to defraud, grand theft, uttering a forged instrument and criminal use of personal identification. Detectives said the suspects intercepted envelopes sent by churchgoers and deposited the checks into personal accounts using mobile banking to dodge detection.Lakewood Ranch mail theftAn investigation was launched in Dec. 2025 after a pastor at Harvest United Methodist Churc