Charges: Youth director stole $39,000 from Minnesota church

RAMSEY, Minn. (KMSP) - A youth ministry director in Ramsey, Minn. is being charged with stealing more than $39,000 from a church since 2010.

Benjamin Carruthers, 35, of Elk River, Minn. had been working as the director of kids and youth ministry at the Lord of Life Church since 2007.

The church had a credit card that could be checked out by church employees to make church-related purchases. A recent audit of the credit card found that between December 2014 and June 2015 Carruthers had checked out the card numerous times and charged more than $3,000 to the card for personal items without the church’s authorization.

After looking back through their records, the church discovered Carruthers had been using the church’s credit card for personal expenses since at least 2010. In total, Carruthers is accused of charging more than $39,000 to the church’s credit card without authorization.

Carruthers is being charged with felony theft. He was scheduled to appear in court on June 16.

A spokesperson for Lord of Life church told Fox 9 that they wish Carruthers the best, but they have no comment. Carruthers was let go immediately when these allegations came to light, and has not been with the church for nearly a year.