$300K Stolen From Churches By Passaic County Bookkeeper

PASSAIC COUNTY, NJ — A Haskell woman has admitted to stealing nearly $300,000 from her church employers, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office announced.

Melissa Rivera, 60, pleaded guilty in May after being charged with theft in connection with her former role as bookkeeper at two Roman Catholic parishes in Morris County, officials said.

An investigation began after the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Financial Crimes Unit received a tip that Rivera had embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars while employed as a bookkeeper at Our Lady of Mountain Parish in Long Valley.

Officials said the investigation revealed not only that Rivera had stolen $287,487 from the Our Lady of Mountain Parish, but also another $5,242 from the Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Pompton Plains.

Rivera had written herself 140 checks between May 2018 and May 2024, cashing out a total amount of $292,728, authorities said.

Rivera is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11. Officials said that the State intends to recommend probation with 364 days in the Morris County Correctional Center. She will also have to pay back the parishes’ $292,728 in restitution.