Man Accused of Embezzling Thousands From Church In CT: Police

THOMPSON, CT — A local man is accused of embezzling $33,733 from the Thompson Congregational Church, where he has been a parishioner for years.

On Wednesday, state police charged Bruce Gordon Hall, 65, of Quaddick Road, on a warrant with first-degree larceny.

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According to police, the theft happened between April 18, 2025 and September 29, 2025.

Police said Hall withdrew approximately $33,733 from financial accounts belonging to the church, and then deposited the funds into his personal accounts or accounts belonging to his Texas-based consulting company, Eureka Inventing LLC.

A complainant approached state police about suspected embezzlement in November, an arrest warrant shows.

According to police, Hall joined the church around 2018 to 2020, and assisted with fundraising efforts and grant writing. He served in various roles for the church over the years, including as treasurer and chair of its rebuild committee, documents show.

A fire seriously damaged the church in 2016, and WFSB in 2024 interviewed Hall about the congregation's efforts to raise money and rebuild.

According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Hall requested and received payments for grant writing work he did for the church. For several months, the church's board and congregation approved compensation for him.

However, police claim he received additional payments, directly and to his company, that had never gotten approval from the board or congregation.

Investigators reviewed financial records and determined Hall cashed eight checks from the church made out to himself or to Eureka Inventing, for a total of $33,732.92, the warrant states.

When questioned by police, Hall denied any wrongdoing. He later declined to comment further without an attorney, according to the warrant.

State police assert Hall didn't complete work he claimed to do, and he knew all payments required approval from the board and congregation.

"Despite this, Bruce caused the checks to be written and endorsed and cashed them anyway for his personal benefit," the warrant states.

Hall, who turned himself in to police on Wednesday, is free on a $150,000 bond and is due to appear in Superior Court in Danielson on Aug. 12.