Greenwood Co. woman sentenced for tax evasion after embezzling over $445K from church

GREENWOOD COUNTY, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - A Greenwood County woman plead guilty to tax evasion on Wednesday.

Shelley C. Strickland, 55, was arrested by the South Carolina Department of Revenue in March 2026 after it was determined during an investigation she embezzled more than $445,000 from First Baptist Church of Ware Shoals and converted it for personal use. She was employed with the church from 2018 to 2024, officials said.

Officials report she also did not include the money as income on her tax return for those years, evading at least $29,626 in State Income Tax.

Strickland was sentenced on all charges to 25 years in prison, suspended upon five years of house arrest and five years of probation. She was also ordered by a judge to repay any stolen money and the income tax she owes the state.

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