Former Philadelphia Nonprofit Executive Pleads Guilty to Fraud and Money Laundering Charges involving $1.6 million
PHILADELPHIA / Tuesday, March 3, 2026 – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that John A. Miller, 76, of Philadelphia, pleaded guilty before United States District Court Judge Kelly B. Hodge to one count of wire fraud and one count of engaging in a monetary transaction involving criminally derived property.
Miller served as the executive director and treasurer of a Philadelphia-based religious nonprofit organization that provided financial assistance to the widows and orphans of deceased clergy members. From 2015 through 2022, he diverted money to himself by masking wires intended for beneficiaries with personal checks issued to himself. To conceal the payments, Miller made false and misleading records in the nonprofit’s internal accounting ledgers. In total, Miller misappropriated more than $1.6 million.
According to court filings, after Miller diverted the nonprofit funds into his personal accounts, he used the proceeds for personal expenses, including luxury travel and the purchase of a luxury condominium in Philadelphia. After being made aware of the fraud investigation, Miller liquidated the proceeds by selling the property. Despite the sale, law enforcement agents seized the fraudulent proceeds as the transaction took place.
Under the plea agreement, the defendant will pay $1,626,556 in restitution and forfeit $281,109.96 in fraud proceeds derived from the sale of the condominium.
Miller faces a maximum possible sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment. Sentencing is scheduled for June 22, 2026.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Alisa Shver and Alexander Bowerman.
Source: U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
