Allentown, Pennsylvania church treasurer embezzled $112,000, police say

The former treasurer of the Zion Evangelical Congregation Church in Allentown stole $112,500 from the church over seven years, city police said.
Alice M. Miller, 43, of 740 S. Genesee St., Allentown, was charged today with theft and receiving stolen property for allegedly embezzling the church at 224 W. Susquehanna St.
Miller was in charge of the church's finances from 2002 to 2009. Financial irregularities came to light late last year, when the new pastor, the Rev. Gary J. Morrell, questioned the accounting and ordered a full audit, police said.
Miller is no longer a member of the Zion church.
The audit by a certified public accountant found that certain church debts went unpaid as $112,563 was misappropriated, according to the police arrest affidavit.
The money was siphoned in direct cash withdrawals from church accounts, and in church checks Miller wrote to herself and her husband, Joseph, according to the police arrest affidavit.
Police said Miller had a debit card that tapped into church funds.
District Attorney James B. Martin said there was no evidence Joseph Miller knew of his wife's actions, so he was not charged.
Alice Miller was arraigned today by District Judge John Dugan and released on $75,000 bail.
City police Detective Sgt. LeRoy Oswald investigated the case.