A former secretary of the Saladin Shriners in Grand Rapids, Michigan has just been charged with embezzling $1.39 million from the Saladin Temple's Children's Trust Fund. According to police reports, it seems Richard Ivan Williams has been siphoning off money from the Saladin Shriners ever since 2019 to buy real estate, line his own pockets, and (somewhat incredibly) to donate $275,000 to two of his college fraternities.
Because that was apparently so much more important than supporting the Shriners Children's' Hospitals or the transportation of disabled kids to facilities where they can be treated. He may be a crook, but at least he looked generous to his frat bros, I guess.
Oh. And he was an attorney at one time, so maybe he just wasn't aware of the laws. Or the definition of "trust."
Oh. And he was an attorney at one time, so maybe he just wasn't aware of the laws. Or the definition of "trust."
According to a video report on the WOOD-TV 8 website, Williams' bail was set at a mere $10,000, which means he would only have to personally post $1,000, despite the obvious evidence that he's a potential flight risk with access to enough cash to skip town. If convicted of all six counts, he faces perhaps 20 years behind bars.
As for making restitution? As Emily Dickinson wrote, "Hope is a thing with feathers."
He was never a lawyer he never passed the bar. Hes been known in masonic circles in Michigan as a habitual lier. He was also court martialed out of the US army for lieing and signing bogus citations and awards to servicemen. He didnt spend any time in prison over it because he ratted out all of the people in that ring. He was not welcomed in his blue lodge anymore so he transferred to another where they elected him Master this year but hes stepped down. He wasnt welcome in the Scottish Rite either. But as his method of operation when he wasnt welcome was to shift to another body. He went to the shrine and he made large strides there because people would believe his lies. And he had friends to back him because they believed him. He became a member of the Jesters but was kicked out. So he jumped to the York Rite and again made strides. So none of this is any great suprise to those of us who have been warning brothers about him. No one wanted to listen and here we are.
ReplyDeleteHe also at one point was a trustee at Imperial Shrine but was later asked to stepped down because they caught wind of his shenanigans in the Military and other red flags.
DeleteSo if it was so well known that he was a dodgy character, who the heck gave him the keys to the treasury? SMH...
DeleteHowwho wish to pass the west gate.did this joker ever manage to flimflam his way through the screening processes? The vetting process for candidates needs to be either re-evaluated or strictly followed. There are websites available that that allow one to research the backgrounds of a potential candidate, and they should be used as well in the screening of those who wish to past the west gate.
Delete"American Freemasonry is position based". Brothers seek taking offices. This means we have to be very careful who is elected to serve in office because some Brothers are title chasers, and sometimes it is the Brother with the least desire to lead or be in the spotlight who may be the best qualified among us to lead.
ReplyDeleteSeems to be a trend in Michigan. Another Shrine Temple suffered a tremendous loss some years back....the amount was far more. Two Nobles were given too much authority and trust over the assets of the temple. One was allowed by Imperial to serve as Potentate while under suspension from the Grand Lodge of Michigan, the other continued fleecing the Temple. The Past Potentate filed for bankruptcy and the underling was convicted and pays $200 a year and has currently established a "church" in another state. Stealing from burned and crippled children....there is a special place for men like this.
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