As I understand it, the thefts reportedly escalated around the time the lodge sold its building. Proceeds from the sale, along with additional escrow funds intended for a new lodge hall, were wired to accounts controlled by the lodge where Tyler served as treasurer. When lodge officers requested financial records after removing him from his positions, incomplete documentation was provided, raising immediate red flags about missing investments and hundreds of thousands of dollars unaccounted for. The money was laundered through accounts linked to Katie, ultimately funding two Mercedes autos and other luxury items for the couple.
This is a stark reminder of the importance of financial oversight and transparency in any fraternal organization, including Masonic lodges. Trusted positions like treasurer carry significant responsibility, and when that trust is allegedly abused, it not only harms the lodge but can erode confidence across the broader Masonic world. Lodges everywhere rely on member volunteers acting with integrity – cases like this highlight how a single breach can impact decades of goodwill and philanthropy.
The couple has been released on $10,000 signature bonds and ordered to avoid contact with the lodge (Phew! THERE'S a big deterrent, Yer Honer!) As the criminal case proceeds, the Masonic fraternity in Wisconsin and beyond will be watching closely. For Freemasons committed to the principles of Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth, this story underscores that true brotherhood demands not just honor, but vigilance, accountability, and a renewed commitment to protecting the shared resources that support our shared values.
This is a stark reminder of the importance of financial oversight and transparency in any fraternal organization, including Masonic lodges. Trusted positions like treasurer carry significant responsibility, and when that trust is allegedly abused, it not only harms the lodge but can erode confidence across the broader Masonic world. Lodges everywhere rely on member volunteers acting with integrity – cases like this highlight how a single breach can impact decades of goodwill and philanthropy.
The couple has been released on $10,000 signature bonds and ordered to avoid contact with the lodge (Phew! THERE'S a big deterrent, Yer Honer!) As the criminal case proceeds, the Masonic fraternity in Wisconsin and beyond will be watching closely. For Freemasons committed to the principles of Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth, this story underscores that true brotherhood demands not just honor, but vigilance, accountability, and a renewed commitment to protecting the shared resources that support our shared values.
Reminds me of an expelled PGM from NY and his wife…
ReplyDeleteThanks for bringing this to light. As I said elsewhere, checks and balances for transparency.
ReplyDeleteJim Verge, Connecticut
I've served as a lodge treasurer, and treasurer of multiple other non-profit organizations and for profit organizations for that matter. Committing fraud and stealing money obviously the fault of the offender.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the leadership of these organizations also have a RESPONSIBILTY to audit and sign off on the financial year end bookkeeping EVERY YEAR. And no single individual, should be allowed or guilted into being a Lodge Treasurer for more than 3 years. In the masonic world that RESPONSIBILITY to audit falls on the WM, SD and JRD.
I've known a noble treasurer who held the role for more than 20 years who kept immaculate records but that group's fundraisers dealt with substantial amounts of cash. He never worked professionally as a treasurer, but was a well liked, well respected and nobody thought a pillar of the community like him would ever steal from anybody let alone from a group raising funds for crippled children.
It wasn't until the new leadership for the year, requested an audit that patterns of missing cash turned up. A meeting was called to address these discrepancies with the audit committee but instead of owning up to his 20 year gambling addiction, this man took his own life.
No audit committee wants to find and deal with financial fraud but our various fraternal organizations and entities cannot continue to manage organizational financial responsibilities by simply trusting that the treasurer is accounting for hundreds of thousands of dollars accurately and with integrity. I recognize that same leadership would rather not have to spend funds to hire a 3rd party accounting firm to perform annual audits. But in the for-profit world, leadership who allow the fraud to take place over multiple years are also legally held accountable for fraud occurred during their watch.
Every Masonic organization today should review their financial record keeping and auditing responsibilities.
As Masonic entities, we will either face the pain of financial discipline or the pain of fraud regret.
Though I appreciate this kind of information, it makes me sick to read it. I'd like to ask "Just how stupid can a person be?", but this is it.
ReplyDeleteI would just appreciate having funds like this available to MY Lodge!
It's so difficult the way it is, to get and keep Brethren, then potentials read things like this.
My former son-in-law has shown interest, but because of the way some act that he knows, there is NO convincing him not all are bad.
Thank you Chris.
As much of a criminal as this Treasurer was, the Master is just as much to blame due to his inefficiency to not provide the checks and balances needed with an audit committee. Too many stories like this of Lodge thefts, yet they still happen due to incompetence. THAT much money exchanging hands, there had to be more members of the lodge involved - including Secretary … how do you NOT see that money missing?? In many Lodges I’ve been to, they spend at least 30 minutes discussing if $100 leaves the Lodge. While I used to get annoyed by it - I can see how diligent they were over their finances. Lessons continued to be learned the hard way …
ReplyDeleteNo, it sounds like the guy took advantage of the period after the sale when the proceeds were collected, deposited, and shifted around. I seriously doubt anyone else had knowledge of the theft - possible I suppose, but unlikely. He grabbed it pretty quickly, then likely just put off anyone asking pesky details about the money transfers. He snatched it fast and spent it fast, and I suspect everyone immediately wondered about the two new Mercedes in the driveway...
DeleteThis is why the Audit Committee exists, and why the Inspecting Officer “checks the books.” SHAME on these thieves!!
ReplyDeleteThere's an old saying to the effect that "While the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, the second-best time is today!" Lodges which don't have a budgetary process, don't warrant before expenditures, don't audit, don't oversee the actions of the Temple Board of Trustees... etc., etc. MAY dodge the bullet for years by accepting the standard cliches... "We're only a small lodge," "Everyone trusts/knows/relies on/respects Brother Dave!, "The process just slows things down!"... ad nauseum. One good Brother and honorable man, suddenly faced with dire circumstances or with temptation beyond his means to resist, and the crisis becomes ruin for all and a black eye for the Fraternity! There is ONLY one believable explanation for not establishing and following proper planning, accounting, and auditing processes in a Lodge: the officers and Brethren are too lazy to do it!
ReplyDelete