<p>PORTLAND, Ind. — A northeastern Indiana woman has pleaded guilty to diverting more than $86,000 in public funds and spending it on personal indulgences during her time as a local trustee.</p>
<p>Katina Miller pleaded guilty earlier this month in federal court to one count of wire fraud. The Bryant woman had been indicted in January on two wire fraud counts, the <a href="https://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/crime/2021/02/24/ex-jay-county-township-trustee-pleads-guilty-wire-fraud/4571923001/">Star Press</a> reported.</p>
<p>Miller was a township trustee in Jay County’s Bearcreek Township from 2015 through 2018. Her indictment alleged that she used the township’s two debit cards and wrote unauthorized checks to herself, eventually using a total of $86,755.39 “to pay her own personal, unauthorized charges.” </p>
<p>Under her plea deal, Miller agreed to pay $86,755.39 to the township “as well as any insurance company who had paid any claim based on my fraud.”</p>
<p>A State Board of Accounts audit released after Miller left office accused her of using $131,503 in township funds for personal expenses, including costs stemming from vacations to New Orleans, the Great Smoky Mountains and other locations.</p>
<p>That audit also found she used public funds to buy jewelry, clothing, electronics and other items.</p>
<p>A federal judge in Fort Wayne has accepted Miller’s plea. She is scheduled to be sentenced May 12 on the wire fraud count, which carries a maximum 20-year prison term and $250,000 fine.</p>
