HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. -- A Mooresville man is accused of embezzling more than $9 million from a school and church in Huntersville.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Wayne C. Parker, Jr., 59, of Mooresville, stole millions of dollars from Southlake Christian Academy, where he was employed as headmaster, and from Southlake Church, where he served as treasurer.
Beginning in at least 2000, Parker stole money from both the school and church to fund what the U.S. Attorney's Office calls "an extravagant lifestyle that he would not have been able to afford otherwise", according to court documents; the documents allege Parker used the money to build homes, buy land, go on vacations, purchase Carolina Panthers PSLs, pay off credit card bills, to buy jet skis, a boat and luxury vehicles, as well as to purchase gold and silver coins.
In an effort to hide his crimes, the U.S. Attorney's Office says Parker opened approximately 29 checking accounts, obtained 26 credit cards, seven loans and created nine limited liability companies. The U.S. Attorney's Office also accuses Parker of creating a fraudulent document, purporting to be the results of an audit by an accounting firm, to show the school had been given a clean bill of financial health.
Parker is charged with one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A plea agreement was filed Friday, and Parker will soon make an appearance in front of a U.S. Magistrate, where he will formally enter a guilty plea and restitution will be set.
The faith-based school has more than 600 students enrolled and teaches junior kindergarten through twelfth-grade.
"It takes an especially ruthless person to steal money intended to educate children," said the FBI.