Commonwealth v. Andrew Patrick Landsperger; Church Accountant Sentenced to 5 years for Embezzlement, Credit Card Fraud

Virginia Beach, Va. – Colin D. Stolle, Commonwealth’s Attorney for the city of Virginia Beach, announced that Andrew Patrick Landsperger, age 46, of the 500 block of Broadbend Circle in Chesapeake, Virginia, was sentenced for charges of Embezzlement >=$1,000 and Credit Card Fraud >=$1,000 in 6 Month Period. Landsperger pled guilty to these charges on July 27, 2023. Circuit Court Judge James C. Lewis sentenced Landsperger to ten (10) years in prison with five (5) years suspended leaving five (5) years to serve. This sentence exceeds the high end of the Virginia State Sentencing Guidelines which recommended a sentence no greater than four (4) years and two (2) months.

Had this matter gone to trial, the Commonwealth’s evidence would have proven that between January and August 2022, Landsperger stole money from Galilee Episcopal Church, where he worked as the accountant. As part of his employment, Landsperger had access to payroll, the church’s books, and the church’s credit card. From April to July 2022, he conducted $34,653.72 worth of unauthorized transactions on his Amazon account using the church’s credit card.

Landsperger used his access to the church’s payroll system to alter his approved salary. The total overpayment to Landsperger using the church’s altered payroll system was $134,839.52.

Landsperger had a third embezzlement scheme in which he took possession of, and deposited, money that parishioners donated to the church through the collection till passed around during mass. Prior to Landsperger offering to handle this money, the church received an average of $450 a week in donations. After he began depositing the collections, this number dropped to under $200 per week. After Landsperger was fired, the donation levels immediately returned to the levels the church observed prior to Landsperger’s handling of the money. The estimated loss of donations was estimated to be approximately $7,000.

Landsperger’s credit card fraud was discovered in August 2022, and he was fired. In total the church’s estimated loss was $176,536. After its insurance policy and reimbursement from its credit card company, the church recovered $112,324. The outstanding total loss is approximately $64,199.

Landsperger was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $64,199 to Galilee Episcopal Church and $100,000 to the church's insurance company.

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Jason M. Kowalski prosecuted this case. Please contact Macie Allen if additional information is desired.