FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WFFT) — Federal prosecutors announced that a Jay County woman will plead guilty to fraud charges after she was accused of using township funds for her own use over a nearly four-year period.
On Jan. 21, the U.S. Attorney’s Office charged Katina Miller, the former Trustee of the Bearcreek Township Trustee’s Office in Bryant, was charged with two counts of wire fraud.
According to court documents, from Jan. 2015 through on Dec. 31, 2018, Miller embezzled a total of $86,755.39 by using township bank accounts to pay personal expenses through debit cards, ATM withdrawals or checks made payable to herself.
Miller reportedly told investigators in April 2019, she admitted to spending over $8,200 in travel expenses for trips to Ohio's Put-In-Bay, the Smoky Mountains and New Orleans.
More than $123,000 in funds for the Bearcreek Township Trustee's office went undocumented from Jan. 2018 through Dec. 2018.
Bell says earlier this month, on Feb. 2, Miller pled guilty to one count of wire fraud and admitted to making a scheme to divert money from the trustee's office for her own benefit.
On Friday, United States District Court Judge Holly A. Brady accepted Miller's guilty plea.
Any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the Judge after a consideration of federal statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
READ: Criminal complaint for State Of Indiana V. Katina Miller
You can view the full audit below.
