Former Non-Profit Head Charged With Fraud

Patricia Ann Miller, 44, of Duluth, Minnesota was charged yesterday in federal court with allegedly defrauding the non-profit she ran. "Patty" Miller, as she is known, was the executive director of the First Witness Child Abuse Resource Center in Duluth. She was charged with bilking the Center and its clients of some $120,842 in funds that were used to pay for personal expenses. She faces a maximum of 20 years in prison but will likely work out a plea agreement for much less time.

Read the details here.

Non-profits often become the victims of fraud due to the simple fact that they tend to lack adequate checks and balances and other business controls. In this case the theievery caught up to Miller and the board rightfully fired her and referred the case to the police. Experience suggests that if she weren't prosecuted, she would likely end up at another company or non-profit and begin her shenanigans all over again.