A former administrative assistant at a Tuscaloosa Catholic church pleaded has pleaded guilty to embezzling money, much of which she is accused of using to buy gifts for TikTokers.

Kristen Marie Battocletti, 35, entered her guilty plea to one count of wire fraud involving the theft of hundreds of thousands of dollars from St. Francis of Assisi University Parish on Tuesday in a Tuscaloosa courtroom.

Her indictment was announced last week by Northern District of Alabama U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Carlton Peeples.

According to federal court documents, Battocletti engaged in a scheme to defraud the church from April 2023 through October 2023.

Battocletti stole approximately $300,000 from St. Francis, using the funds to buy more than $220,000 in TikTok Coins and to pay personal expenses, federal authorities said.

Battocletti used the TikTok Coins to send digital gifts to TikTok content creators. In the scheme, documents state, she initiated more than 600 unauthorized transactions.

The FBI investigated the case.

The maximum penalty for wire fraud is 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.

U.S. District Judge L. Scott Coogler set Battocletti’s sentencing date for Nov. 26. She received a $5,000 bond pending sentencing.