Suspect charged with not paying taxes on allegedly stolen money

THEODORE, Ala. (WALA) - A Theodore woman accused of stealing thousands of dollars from the church where she worked is now facing some new charges.

Evelyn Mace was arrested Tuesday on a six count indictment for tax evasion.

The arrest stems from a six count indictment alleging Mace failed to pay state taxes on money stolen from First Independent Methodist Church over a three-year period.

"If you get your money illegally, fraudulently selling drugs or any other way, and the state can establish that you got this income, and you didn't pay taxes on it then you're subject to the same tax penalties as anybody else who doesn't declare income and pay taxes on it," Assistant District Attorney Martha Tierney said.

See the full indictment against Mace here

Officials said the new charges will likely be tried along with the original case. Mace's trial for embezzlement and theft is set for late March.

There was no response at the suspect’s Theodore home on Wednesday. The 60-year-old former church bookkeeper was released on bond following her arrest on Tuesday.

Tierney said the State Revenue Department joined the investigation after the original arrest more than a year ago. She specifically commended the work of Randy Day, a forensic accountant with the department.

Mace became the focus of an investigation after church leaders discovered thousands of dollars had been spent from the church's bank account. The money went to casinos and other personal expenses relating to Mace, who was a long time bookkeeper for the congregation.

Related: Reverend speaks out about church theft

"Went to the bank and obtained bank records, and it had all the casinos in Biloxi listed with expenditures," Rev. Michael Vice told FOX10 News in November 2011.

This could be just the beginning of Maces tax troubles, because if she didn't pay state taxes, federal authorities could be looking at her as well.

Tierney said that will be up to the IRS, but she said the current charges focus on the state tax returns only.

"More than likely, they're not going to file a federal return admitting that they got the money," Tierney said.

The indictment also mentions charges relating to stolen rental money, as well as money from the Deep Water Horizon Trust. 

"I'm going to try and not say much about the case since it hasn't gone to trial but, in general, let me say whenever there is an examination of financial records, a charge of either embezzlement or tax evasion, invariably, new information is uncovered that one didn't expect to find," she said.