Man jailed after spending $700,000 church funds on personal expenses

Clearwater police arrested a St. Petersburg man on Wednesday for allegedly diverting funds meant for a new church building to pay for his own lifestyle.

William Botelho, 40, faces a grand theft charge in connection with the project. He owned Custom Building Solutions when Unity Church of Clearwater signed a construction contract with his firm in August 2023.

The church paid Botelho $832,175, which represented 20% of the total contract value. The money was specifically allocated for purchasing building supplies and paying subcontractors.

Subpoenas reviewed by investigators show that only $95,630 of that total went toward the construction project between August 2023 and March 2026. Police reports indicate the remaining $736,545 was unaccounted for in the official records.

Botelho spent the missing money on personal items and services. The breakdown includes $176,574 for restaurants and vacations, $100,000 for a Mercedes, and $65,000 in payments to Ford Motor Company. He also paid $58,556 to his condominium association and $24,400 to various law firms.

Additional outflows included $15,251 toward a Chase home mortgage, $37,661 deposited into a separate account, and $114,700 withdrawn or paid to himself by check. By March 2026, only $56,078 remained in the account.

Police noted that a demand letter was sent to Botelho in July 2026 requesting the unspent balance. He did not respond to the request. He was booked into Pinellas County Jail without bond.