The minority leader of Hartford’s City Council is accused of embezzling from a Hartford church while he was an employee at the religious institution and moving the money to a shell company, then to his personal accounts.
Hartford police said they took a complaint on June 4 about the embezzlement of funds from South Church in Hartfor between April 2023 to April 2024 and identified the suspect as Alex Thomas, 27, of Hartford.
The mayor’s office said Thomas is a member of the city council.
The Hartford Police Major Crimes Fraud Division began investigating and determined that Thomas misused the church credit card to direct funds to a shell company, then to his personal accounts while he was employed by the church, police said.
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He turned himself in to the Hartford Police Department on Tuesday and he has been charged with money laundering in the second degree and larceny in the second degree.
Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam released a statement on Wednesday afternoon.
"The City of Hartford holds its officials to high standards of integrity and accountability, and we trust the judicial process to determine the facts and follow the appropriate process in place. While this pertains to an ongoing investigation, the City cannot provide further comment,” he said.
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Council President Shirley Surgeon also released a statement.
"As members of the Hartford City Council, it’s incumbent upon all of us to uphold the values and trust placed in us by the residents of our City. There’s an appropriate legal process in place, and I trust our local law enforcement to see that process through. In the meantime, the City Council remains focused on serving the residents of Hartford,” she said.
Bond for Thomas was set at $250,000.
