CHARLOTTE, NC — A Catholic Charities official in the Diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina, was charged with embezzlement and money laundering.

Leah Stewart, a disaster case management supervisor, is accused of spending funds intended for disaster victims on personal expenses, including repairs to her Mercedes.

Records show Leah Stewart, 46, was booked into jail Saturday, April 25, and charged with embezzlement and money laundering. She posted a $25,000 bond and was released on Monday, April 27.

According to an affidavit, Stewart, a disaster case management supervisor with Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte, made multiple personal purchases using a business credit card. Her responsibilities included overseeing the intake process for disaster survivors and identifying immediate and long-term needs, including housing, financial assistance, and other critical areas.

Police said that from April to May 2025, she made purchases not intended for disaster victims and not authorized by the organization; those transactions are listed below.

• Food
• Car insurance
• Mobile phone bills
• Personal hotel room stays
• Repairs to her personal vehicle

A witness reportedly told police that Stewart admitted using the card to pay for repairs to her Mercedes. Police said other transactions were not discussed but were uncovered during an audit of the card account.