Fraud | Employee stole over £200K to buy gifts for TikTok stars

A former employee at a church is guilty of transferring over £200,000 from her employer to buy gifts for TikTok influencers.

Kristen Marie Battocletti, who worked as an administrative assistant, stole roughly $300,000 (£233,190) between April and October 2023 from St. Francis of Assisi University Parish in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, through more than 600 unauthorised transactions.

Reportedly, the former employee spent the majority of the money ($220,000) on herself, and the rest of the funds on TikTok Coins to buy gifts for her favourite stars on the app.

Battocletti pleaded guilty to the theft but is yet to be sentenced – the maximum penalty for this type of fraud being 20 years in prison.