A Connecticut city council member who pleaded guilty to stealing money from his church will avoid prison time after receiving a suspended sentence.
Hartford City Councilman Alexander Thomas was sentenced on Tuesday after pleading guilty to the reduced charges of fourth-degree larceny and fourth-degree money laundering.
Thomas received an 11-month sentence that was suspended, plus two years of probation, reported CT Insider. As of Tuesday, he remains a member of the Hartford City Council.
In October 2024, Thomas turned himself in and was charged with money laundering and larceny after allegedly stealing more than $14,000 from South Church of Hartford.
Thomas, who had served as director of Children and Family Ministries at South Church, came under scrutiny when church members discovered financial irregularities starting in 2023.
While Thomas had claimed that the funds were going to various ministries and a local YMCA chapter, the church fired him and an investigation was launched into his activities.
“There’s an overwhelming feeling of sadness, disappointment, sure, there’s a level of betrayal,” said the Rev. Adam Soderberg of South Church, as quoted by NBC Connecticut at the time.
“One assumes some of it was legitimately used to fund the ministry because we had a ministry, but how much of it was misappropriated — we don’t know. … It’s all about accountability. This is not where we wanted to be. I do not wish ill will on Alex or the family but it was not something that could be ignored.”
The Working Families Party, a small left-leaning political party that Thomas belongs to, issued a statement calling on the city councilman to resign from office amid the charges.
“The Hartford Working Families Party and the City Council must remain focused on the critical issues that impact our community,” stated the party, reported Connecticut Public Radio.
“We publicly asked Alex Thomas to step down in October so that he does not distract further from these priorities, and we still believe that is the best course of action.”
In March, Thomas was denied an application to undergo accelerated rehabilitation, a program available for first-time offenders that would have erased the charges against him.
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