PHILADELPHIA, PA — A former executive director of a Philadelphia religious nonprofit pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal charges related to a scheme that diverted more than $1.6 million intended for clergy families, federal prosecutors announced.
John A. Miller, 76, of Philadelphia, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Kelly B. Hodge to one count of wire fraud and one count of engaging in a monetary transaction involving criminally derived property, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Miller served as executive director and treasurer of a Philadelphia-based nonprofit that provided financial assistance to widows and orphans of deceased clergy members.
Prosecutors said that from 2015 through 2022, Miller diverted funds intended for beneficiaries by disguising wire transfers with checks written to himself.
According to court filings, Miller concealed the payments by creating false and misleading entries in the organization’s internal accounting ledgers.
In total, Miller misappropriated more than $1.6 million from the nonprofit, prosecutors said.
Authorities said Miller transferred the funds into personal accounts and used the money for personal expenses, including luxury travel and the purchase of a condominium in Philadelphia.
After learning of the federal investigation, Miller sold the condominium, according to court records.
Law enforcement agents seized the fraudulent proceeds as the sale was taking place, prosecutors said.
Under the plea agreement, Miller agreed to pay $1,626,556 in restitution and to forfeit $281,109.96 in proceeds derived from the condominium sale.
Miller faces a maximum possible sentence of 30 years in prison.
Sentencing is scheduled for June 22, 2026.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alisa Shver and Alexander Bowerman are prosecuting the case, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
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