Luke Commission is rebounding

SANDPOINT — A Bonner County-based humanitarian relief organization is rebounding from the turmoil of a former employee who defrauded them of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

“It was a pretty substantial challenge that I think a lot of people would have found tough to bounce back from,” said Steve Dilts, director of ministry promotion for The Luke Commission.

The Luke Commission sets up free medical clinics in the remote African bush of Swaziland, an impoverished country in the grips of an AIDS epidemic. The group was founded by Dr. Harry VanderWal and his wife, Echo.

The couple hired April Leigh Matthews as an office assistant in 2007 to collect their mail, answer the phone, and prepare checks for incoming bills, though she was not authorized to sign the checks herself.

After the VanderWals left for Swaziland, prosecutors allege Matthews forged checks and opened nearly a half-dozen lines of credit in the VanderWals’ names and those of family members for her personal benefit.

Prosecutors further allege Matthews overpaid herself and her husband, Jeff, for work he did in removing contaminated soils from property owned by the VanderWals.

All together, federal prosecutors contend Matthews misappropriated $259,624, but used some of own money and cash draws from the fraudulently obtained credit cards to replenish the VanderWals accounts, which left a misappropriated balance of at least $107,464.

Matthews, a 40-year-old from Sagle, pleaded guilty earlier this month in U.S. District Court to five counts of making false statements in credit card applications.

She is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 14. She faces up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million.

Dilts said Matthews’ plea enables the VanderWals to begin to move on with their lives and the missionary work.

“They’re looking forward to getting this chapter behind them and continue to advance the cause of the ministry, and this is a very important step in that direction,” Dilts said of the VanderWals, who are currently in Swaziland.

Dilts said the “grace of God,” in addition to friends and supporters here, around the country and globe, enabled The Luke Commission to weather the storm.

“It’s been through a lot of teamwork and efforts by a lot of people that they’ve been able to stay in the field,” he said.

The Luke Commission has expanded its relief work to include distributing specialized wheelchairs that can navigate rugged bush terrain and making inroads with the Swazi government and other health organizations

Dilts said the VanderWals are also working with tribal chiefs to set up a more permanent encampment for The Luke Commission in the southern African kingdom.

“There are a couple of very promising opportunities along those lines,” he said.