Phoenix - Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich is announcing the indictments of a Phoenix healthcare and church bookkeeper.
On January 22, 2015 officers from the Phoenix Police Department and the Attorney General’s Office arrested Nelda Jean Nicholson. Nicholson had been indicted by the State Grand Jury on January 12, and charged in two separate indictments with two counts of Theft, two counts of Fraudulent Schemes and Artifices, and 145 counts of Forgery.
The first indictment relates to allegations that Nicholson, while working as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for the non-profit organization Visions of Hope (located at 601 West Hatcher Road Phoenix, AZ 85021), used her position to issue checks to herself without the approval of the agency. The indictment references 124 checks that Nicholson is alleged to have improperly acquired between December 18, 2009 and October 31, 2012.
The second indictment relates to allegations that Nicholson, while working as a bookkeeper for Resurrection Lutheran Church (located at 4930 East Greenway Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85254), used her position to issue checks to herself without the approval of the church leadership. The indictment references 21 checks that she is alleged to have improperly acquired between October 1, 2013 and June 19, 2014.
“It’s disheartening that a trusted employee could possibly take advantage of organizations that are working to improve our community,” said Attorney General Mark Brnovich. “We will not tolerate the targeting of non-profit organizations for criminal activity.”
All charges are allegations and the Defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. For more information contact the Attorney General's Office at (602) 542-5025.