Richard Williams, a former secretary of the Saladin Shriners chapter in Grand Rapids, is facing serious legal repercussions with six counts of embezzlement leveled against him for allegedly siphoning over $1.4 million from an organization known for its charitable work, specifically the Shriners Children Trust fund. According to court documents, Williams began his scheme in 2019 and continued it until 2024, as reported by FOX 17.
Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker announced the charges yesterday, detailing that three counts are for amounts greater than $100,000 and three more for amounts between $50,000 and $100,000, during the timeframe between 2019 and 2024, information corroborated by MLive. Williams' alleged misdeeds include writing checks to himself, purchasing land, and making sizable donations to college fraternities in his name.
The case has not only brought to light questions regarding oversight within the Shriners organization but also touched on the deeper societal trust placed in philanthropic entities that are deemed guardians of funds meant for the vulnerable; this breach of trust appears to stretch past financial impropriety and into the realm of moral bankruptcy. Detectives have tracked funds totaling $1.395 million, missing from the organization, activities that culminated in at least one deposit of Shrine's money amounting to $45,000 into Williams' personal bank account, as per the investigation laid out in documents obtained by FOX 17.
Williams was arraigned on the six charges today and is subjected to a $10,000 bond. If convicted, the potential prison sentence could tally up to 105 years should the sentences be served consecutively or a maximum of 20 years if served concurrently, the embezzlement scandal has left the Grand Rapids Shriners organization struggling with the fallout, given their notable contributions to children's medical care, sentiments shared by Mix 957GR which stated, "This case has sent shockwaves through the community, especially among those who have supported the Saladin Shriners for years."
