Thursday, June 25, 2015

Brother Steals a Million Dollars from the Scottish Rite

Brother Fredrick McWilliams was hired as the Building Manager and IT specialist as a $32,000 a year salaried employee for the United Supreme Council 33rd degree Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite (for those unfamiliar with the name it is our Brothers Prince Hall Scottish Rite) in Memphis, Tennessee.

He has been accused in a criminal complaint issued by the Shelby County Attorney's office that during November of 2014 McWilliams gained unauthorized access to the United Supreme Council's checking account. He began writing checks to himself totaling $264,000. He then made unauthorized transactions on the Rites Pay Pal account for this personal use.  McWilliams' criminal spree continued after he obtained the Rites debit card and purchased NBA Memphis Grizzle tickets for $240,000.  He also made numerous withdrawals at gambling casinos.

An Audit was conducted in April of 2015 and the amount missing totaled over $1 million dollars.

McWilliams employment with the Scottish Rite had been terminated prior to the audit but it is believed that McWilliams destroyed evidence by deleting files from the server prior to the audit.

It should also be noted that McWilliams was removed as Grand Secretary of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Tennessee.

Sources state that McWilliams was arrested while attending the Memphis Grizzle's game at the Fed-Ex Forum while he was seated in box seat sky box.

I wonder how jail food compares to the sky box food? I bet he is not smiling now.

He is currently being held at the Shelby County Jail on $100,000 bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for 07/10/2015.

Photo courtesy of the Shelby County Sheriffs Department.





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