Minister arrested for embezzlement
A Rowan County clergy member has been charged with embezzling money from a religious organization over a two-year period, the Salisbury police say.
Rev. Johnnie Lee Jones, of Concord
The Rev. Johnnie Lee Jones, of Concord, was charged by police with embezzling $20,000 from the Western N.C. Association of the Southern Conference of the United Church of Christ.Jones had been treasurer of the organization for four years, and police say he admitted the theft – and returned $5,000 of the money – when his term expired earlier this year. He surrendered to police Friday. Police say Jones wrote the checks to an accounting firm he operates in Concord.