PA Embezzlement

Havertown woman busted for $150K embezzlement
Published: Thursday, April 19, 2012

MEDIA - On April 16, members of the Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division Economic Crime Unit arrested Dorothy J. Miller, 50, of Moeywn Drive in Havertown, and charged her with multiple felony counts of theft, forgery, identity theft, and conspiracy. Miller was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Edward Gannon and was remanded to the George W. Hill Correctional Facility in lieu of posting $75,000 cash bail. A preliminary hearing is set for Tuesday April 24 before Judge Gannon. As with all criminal defendants, Dorothy Miller is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This investigation began in December, 2008, when Kimberly Summers was interviewed by CID detectives. Summers related that she and her deceased husband, John Summers, were the owners of Summers Hardwood Floors, Inc. located in Sharon Hill, PA. Kimberly Summers explained that after her husband’s death she discovered what she believed to be a misuse of company funds. Summers further related that the defendant, Miller, was hired to run the administrative part of Summers Hardwood Floors sometime between January and February, 2005. Summers also told investigators that in or around July, 2005 that she took a step back from the business and the defendant took on more responsibilities.

Summers detailed that she discovered a credit card opened in her name that was not authorized by her. She then discovered several other names using her checking account, none of which were authorized by her. Summers further advised that many unauthorized checks were drawn on her checking account bearing her name or her husband’s name on the signature line that were neither her nor her husband’s signature. During the investigation, search warrants were issued for all cancelled checks on both Kimberly Summers account and Summers Hardwood Floor, Inc’s account. Through handwriting analysis, it was determined that the defendant, Dorothy Miller, had forged Kimberly Summer’s and John Summer’s signature on numerous checks from both their personal checking account and the business checking account totaling $98,183.18. Additionally, Dorothy Miller forged Kimberly Summer’s name on a loan application for a $50,000 business equity line of credit. The investigation determined that the total loss to Kimberly Summers and Summers Hardwood Floors, Inc due to the defendant’s fraud is approximately $150,000.

“I would like to remind the public that the implementation and use of basic accounting safeguards is imperative in every business, large or small, in order to avoid, deter, and minimize the types of fraud committed in this case”, noted Delaware County District Attorney John “Jack” Whelan. Whelan praised the efforts of investigators and reiterated his commitment to deterring and prosecuting white collar crime in Delaware County in order to keep the community a safe, nice place for companies, small and large, to do business.