Former church business manager charged for stealing over $600,000 in fraudulent scheme
West Fargo, North Dakota – A woman who once oversaw the finances of a West Fargo church is now facing federal fraud charges after allegedly stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from the congregation over a period of more than five years.
Carly Anne Tufte, the former business manager of Faith Journey Lutheran Church, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on five counts of bank fraud and one count of access device fraud. The indictment, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota on January 28, accuses Tufte of misusing her financial authority to siphon off approximately $600,000 in church funds for personal expenses.
Tufte was initially hired as an office administrative assistant at the church in 2018. In 2019, she was promoted to business manager, a role that gave her access to the church’s financial accounts. She remained in that position until her resignation on December 13, 2024, and earned an annual salary of roughly $53,000.
Unauthorized Credit Card and Personal Spending
Federal prosecutors allege that in April 2019, Tufte secretly opened a credit card account with First National Bank of Omaha under both her name and the church’s name. Importantly, the statements were sent to her personal residence, shielding the card’s existence from other church officials.
Between 2019 and the end of 2024, Tufte reportedly charged close to $640,000 on the card. Prosecutors say most of the spending was unrelated to church needs and included “vacation travel and clothing.” To cover the charges, Tufte allegedly made unauthorized transfers from the church’s General Fund account at Gate City Bank, directing around $600,000 to pay off her personal credit card balances.
The indictment further claims Tufte used a debit card linked to the church’s account to pay rent for her personal home.
Attempts to Hide the Fraud
To prevent discovery, Tufte reportedly withheld bank statements from the church treasurer—who was a certified public accountant—and manipulated journal entries to inflate the church’s apparent operating expenses.
Her resignation came just two days after learning that the newly appointed pastor intended to examine the church’s finances. She did not return her work-issued computer until December 18, 2024.
The fraudulent activity remained hidden until the church uncovered the existence of the unauthorized credit card in January 2025. Tufte reportedly cancelled the card on January 28, 2025—the same day she was indicted.
If convicted of the charges, Tufte could face forfeiture of any assets connected to the alleged crimes. Her arraignment and initial court appearance are scheduled for February 4 at 1:30 p.m.
