News

July 22, 2008

W-B mini-football ex-treasurer charged with $24K theft from group

By Terrie Morgan-Besecker tmorgan@timesleader.com
Law & Order Reporter
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WILKES-BARRE – The former treasurer of the Wilkes-Barre Bears has been charged with stealing at least $24,000 from the mini-football organization.

Marybeth Miller, 39, of Blytheburn Road, Dorrance Township, is accused of taking the money from the team’s accounts for her personal use starting in 2003 or 2004, according to an arrest affidavit.

Miller, formerly known as Marybeth Snyder, was charged July 11 with various counts of theft. She was scheduled to appear Monday in Central Court for a preliminary hearing, but it was continued until Aug. 13 at the request of her attorney, said First Assistant District Attorney Jeff Tokach.

Miller is one of at least 13 persons who have been charged with stealing from nonprofit organizations or governmental offices within the past few years. The cases underscore the importance for organizations and government entities to establish a system of checks and balances, Tokach said.

“It’s very difficult, but they have to be as vigilant as possible,” Tokach said. “These organizations that do concession stands and fundraisers raise a lot of money. The temptation is there.”

In Miller’s case, she admitted taking money beginning in 2003 or 2004, when she said she and her husband, Edward, began experiencing financial troubles, according to an arrest affidavit. She told authorities she used the money for various purposes, including paying bills, the affidavit says.

Tokach said authorities are investigating Edward Snyder’s role in the theft and charges may be filed against him at a later date.

According to an arrest affidavit, Miller told police she took the money with plans of paying it back once her husband got his paycheck, but there was never enough left over.

Tokach said that’s a common theme in these cases.

“They think they’ll pay it back before they get caught, but they can’t do it and it catches up to them,” he said.

Authorities had been investigating Miller since 2005, when another official, Lynn Evans of Wilkes-Barre, said she first noticed problems with the organization’s bank account.

Evans, now president of the Bears, on Monday said she became suspicious after learning the bill for the group’s annual banquet was not paid. She investigated further and learned that several checks had been returned for insufficient funds.

Tokach said it took this long to file charges because an audit was needed to determine how much was missing. Miller admitted to taking $11,000, according to an arrest affidavit, but the audit showed $24,296 is missing.

Tokach said the case was made more difficult because part of the missing money came from concession stand sales.

“There’s a lot of cash going in. It’s really hard to document,” Tokach said. “If some kid pays a dollar for soda only 50 cents goes in the box, how can you prove that?”

Miller is charged with theft by failure to make required disposition of funds, conspiracy and another offense. She remains free pending resolution of her case.

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