A Tucson pastor, his wife, and another woman have been arrested and accused of stealing more than a $100,000 dollars from a local church. Jose Galvan was behind bars at the Pima County Jail on theft and fraudulent scheme charges.
His wife and their friend have been released.
Detectives started investigating Galvan in late February after he was suspended by the governing board of the Church of God denomination which runs Iglesia de Dios Sinai on Nogales highway.
Detectives say on February 22nd church overseers here a Iglesia De Dios Sinai suspended Jose Galvan as pastor. Investigators say it was after that meeting Galvan instructed his wife and the church's treasurer to withdrawal money from the church's bank account -- which they allegedly did. All $111,115.15.
The following day, Feb. 23rd, detectives say Maria Galvan, the pastor's wife, and Cristella Iguado, the church's treasurer, opened up another account at a Wells Fargo bank with the exact amount of money that was taken the day before. A couple of weeks later, on March 9th, detectives say they have surveillance video showing Maria Galvan withdrawing $50,000.
Court documents show the new account beared the name of Sinai Visiual Celestial, a new church Jose Galvan claims to have started at a non-descript store at a strip mall near Valencia and I-19.
Pima County Sheriff's detectives recovered several stolen items from the other church, including, according to an evidence control form, dozens of custom chairs, speakers, and a wood pulpit. Deputies also searched the home of Jose and Maria Galvan where they found bank statements confirming the money transfer.
A neighbor told us the movers were at the home yesterday clearing out the house.
Pastor Juan Lima did not have an official statement regarding the embezzled money as of Monday night, but he did give us a clue as to why Galvan was originally suspended. Church leaders asked him to take a "time of reflection and rejuvenation due to reasons in his personal life" but Pastor Lima would not elaborate any further.
