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Ex-Board Member Indicted in $3.8 Million Theft From Swedish Church of New York

Prosecutors say he hid transfers with forged bank statements after opening an account only he could access.

Overview

  • Olof Olsson, 45, was charged in a 24-count indictment unsealed Thursday in New York County Supreme Court before Judge Althea Drysdale.
  • Officials say the licensed securities broker diverted more than $3.8 million while serving on the church board, using his access to manage the congregation’s assets.
  • Prosecutors allege he opened a bank account in the church’s name that only he could use and then produced fake investment statements to mislead other board members.
  • Court filings say the money went to personal expenses, risky investments, and a failed business venture.
  • The Attorney General’s Public Integrity Bureau began the investigation in December 2025, and the case now proceeds in court with a top charge that carries up to 25 years in prison if he is convicted.