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WINNIPEG — A Winnipeg man who was employed at a church in Windsor Park has been charged with stealing $400,000.00.

Leo McCaughan, 39, worked as the book keeper since 2009 at the Parish of Saint Bernadette on Cottonwood Road when inconsistencies were found last May.

Parishioners at Saint Bernadette said it’s a time of mixed emotions.

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“While we are hurt and shocked by the actual news itself, at least we know what was happening,” Phil Daley, Pastor of the parish said.

Daley said it was last May when the church noticed something was wrong.

“They had a renovation project in place that they were raising funds for, for years,” Daley said. “But they were told it’s not enough, and they kept trying harder and harder.”

After an audit by the Archdiocese of Saint Boniface, they reported the fraud to Winnipeg Police.

“He’s writing cheques to himself, he’s entering false information into the ledger to cover-up what he’s doing,” said Constable Jason Michalyshen, “you know if anyone at a glance would look at the books everything might appear okay but as you dig deeper and a professional audit is done there’s no question things are not adding up.”

McCaughan is from Winnipeg. Police say he used the money to go on lavish trips around the world, purchase expensive toys and pay bills. He’s been charged with theft over $5000, fraud over $5000, and falsification of books and documents.

He remains in custody.

In the meantime, the church is hoping this doesn’t deter Winnipeggers from giving to charities they care about.

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“That’s going to hurt more than anything. they gave from their hearts and this is what was taken from them,” Daley said.

RAW: Winnipeg police briefing on arrest of man who allegedly stole $400,000 from church

3:07 RAW: Winnipeg police briefing on arrest of man who allegedly stole $400,000 from church RAW: Winnipeg police briefing on arrest of man who allegedly stole $400,000 from church