Man Who Stole $4M from Rahway Mega Church Sentenced

Rahway, NJ - A man who admitted he used his position as a certified public accountant to steal more than $4 million from a Rahway mega church was sentenced to almost 5 years (57 months) in prison Tuesday, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Donald Gridiron, 51, of Pomona, California, admitted in 2015 that he defrauded the Agape Family Worship Center out of more than $4 million while serving as an accountant for the non-denominational church, according to federal prosecutors.

The church, on East Hazelwood Avenue in Rahway, has a congregation of nearly 5,000.

The Agape Family Worship Center hired Gridiron as an accountant because he knew people in the church, prosecutors said. He was paid a monthly salary and reimbursed for his expenses.

Except while working there, Gridiron also maintained his role as the treasurer for a non-profit based in California. Gridiron transferred more than $4 million between the church and the non-profit, both of which were accounts he controlled.

He spent the money on himself, prosecutors say, including his mortgage payments, luxury car payments and gambling expenses. Gridiron also failed to report this income on his tax returns, including $950,000 he stole during the 2011 tax year.

In addition to the prison term, Gridiron was ordered to pay restitution of approximately $5.16 million ($4,815,964 to the Rahway church, including $200,000 to insurers who have paid the worship center; and $348,450 to the California non-profit.)

He previously pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of filing a false tax return.