Lifeway employee charged with misusing company funds

Tennessee authorities on Tuesday arrested Giancarlo Montemayor, former director of global publishing at Lifeway, over alleged misuse of funds. Lifeway, an entity of the Southern Baptist Convention, is a leading nonprofit publisher of Christian books, Bibles, and resources. Lifeway learned of Montemayor’s actions in May, the organization told WORLD in a statement. After an internal investigation found Montemayor violated the organization’s financial and ethical policies, Lifeway fired him and referred the matter to local law enforcement, resulting in Montemayor’s arrest.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said it booked Montemayor, also identified by the name Trejo, into the Williamson County Jail Tuesday on a $250,000 bond. The bureau, which began investigating the case in October 2025, said Montemayor used fraudulent contacts to receive referral fees. Investigators say he also distributed complimentary Bibles while asking recipients to send payments to his personal account, and used a company credit card for personal expenses and travel. He faces charges that include one count of felony theft, three counts of felony computer offenses, and 10 counts of forgery. He is considered legally innocent until proven guilty in court.

Lifeway leaders said they were shocked and saddened by Montemayor’s actions. The organization and independent auditors thoroughly reviewed the company’s travel and expenses and determined it was an isolated incident, according to the statement provided to WORLD. The publisher said it was strengthening its internal controls and expense reporting protocols to prevent future misuse of funds.

Dig deeper: Read Micah Barkley’s report about a church treasurer accused of stealing over $400,000 from a Methodist church in central South Carolina.