The former administrative assistant for the First Baptist Church of Pittston has been sentenced to 15 months in federal prison for stealing nearly $185,000 to support an online gambling habit, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Gail Nossavage, 62, of Harding, previously pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud alleging she made numerous fraudulent deposits into her own bank account with church money.
U.S. District Judge Karoline Mehalchick sentenced Nossavage to 15 months in prison followed by three years of probation, prosecutors announced Wednesday.
The charges alleged that Nossavage worked as administrative assistant at the church at the church at 8 Water St. from April 2020 through December 2021.
Nossavage managed church finances and was responsible for depositing monetary collections, prosecutors said.
An FBI investigation revealed Nossavage had been made at least 115 fraudulent deposits into her personal bank account using church funds, and had charged church credit cards for items without permission.
Using church money, Nossavage illegally compensated herself for expenses she labeled as “bonuses,” “miscellaneous,” “vacation,” and “travel,” prosecutors said.
In total, Nossavage stole $184,725 from the church, much of which she spent on online gambling platforms, according to prosecutors.
In addition to time behind bars, Nossavage was ordered to pay restitution of the stolen money.
Court records showed federal prosecutors have already seized $73,796 from her personal bank account as well as $1,591 from her Draft Kings account.