Former Lee County church treasurer stole over $400K, SLED says

South Carolina Law Enforcement Division charged a former Mechanicsville United Methodist Church treasurer after she admitted to stealing more than $400,000 from church accounts. 

On Monday, July 6, Latrise Latrell Seward, 54, was charged with breach of trust with fraudulent intent valued at $10,000 or more, according to SLED.

Lee County Sheriff’s Office requested the SLED investigation. 

According to an arrest warrant, between January 2018 and August 2025, Seward used her access to the church’s bank accounts to make unauthorized personal purchases totaling about $402,655.45. She admitted to making the unauthorized purchases during an interview with law enforcement. 

Seward was taken to Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center.