A woman is facing charges of embezzlement and obstruction of justice after allegedly stealing money from a Flint charity meant to benefit children.
Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette says Dian Stephens, 53 of Flushing, is accused of misusing about $20,000 in charitable gaming funds that she raised from January 2011 to October 2013.
She reportedly used a fake charity, raised the money and then spent the funds on personal bills.
Stephens has been charged with one count of obstruction of justice and six counts of embezzlement.
Schuette says she was charged with obstruction of justice after allegedly giving a falsified lease to the prosecution following a court date for this case.
“This woman claimed she wanted to help Flint kids, but instead it appears she used her charity as a front to bolster herself personally,” said Schuette in a statement. “This kind of behavior cannot be tolerated and instead of facing up to her alleged actions, Ms. Stephens allegedly continued to try and shirk the law. In a city that has already suffered so much, I take any allegations very seriously.”
Stephens is expected to appear for her preliminary exam on Thursday, March 23.
