Former Acting Treasurer of East Meadow Church Ordered to Pay Back Stolen $35,000: DA

EAST MEADOW, NY - A former acting treasurer of the Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in East Meadow was sentenced on Wednesday for stealing more than $35,000 from the church between May 2014 and May 2015, according to the Nassau County District Attorney.

After pleading guilty to petty larceny in January, 39-year-old Ronald Ousman, of Bayside, was sentenced by Nassau County District Court Judge Martin Massell to pay full restitution, serve three years of probation and serve 210 hours of community service, according to the DA.

His attorney is currently holding $20,000 in restitution money in escrow and any amount still due following the sentence will be paid through the Department of Probation, the DA said.

If he does not continue to pay the rest of the restitution, Ousman could face a maximum sentence of one year in jail.

Between May 16, 2014 and May 7, 2015, Ousman embezzled a total of $35,608 while acting treasurer, making a series of cash withdrawals from the church's checking and money market accounts, the DA said.

The investigation began when church officials contacted the Internal Revenue Service to verify certain tax information, according to the DA.

IRS employees informed church officials that certain payments were never received by the IRS and an investigation was opened by the DA’s office in May 2015.

“Ronald Ousman abused the trust bestowed upon him by the church, stealing more than $35,000 that could have gone to worthy causes but was instead diverted into his own pockets,” DA Madeline Singas said. “Thanks to church officials contacting my office, the defendant has been prosecuted and will make full restitution to pay for his crime against this faith community.”