LaPLACE, La. — Was it frequent trips to the dentist for cavities? Or a trail of sugar ants? Sheriff’s investigators in St. John the Baptist Parish aren’t saying how 31-year-old Jason Dumas became their chief suspect in a scam that left a church stuck with a nearly $10,000 bill for a fraudulent order for the World’s Finest Chocolate.
But it appears the suspects may have left a paper trail, according to church officials, even though sheriff’s officials haven’t been able to locate the man after months of searching.
Authorities say Dumas ordered 200 cases of chocolate under the name of Celebration Church on Oct. 27, 2009. The candy was delivered to the church, where authorities say Dumas and another suspect were waiting to unload the order into two vehicles.
Pastor David Jochum said before the delivery, the candy distributor called the church office to confirm the shipment of the chocolate to one of the church’s deacons — a Jason Dumas.
The receptionist told them that “there was no one by that name” at the church, but they delivered the chocolate anyway, Jochum said.
The church received an invoice for $9,020 from World’s Finest Chocolate in February.
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