TRAVERSE CITY — A woman accused of embezzling from a local charity faces additional criminal charges.
Mary Lee Flohe, 69, now is charged with nine felony counts of embezzling between $1,000 and $20,000 from a nonprofit or charitable organization. Authorities said Flohe, who served as president and director of the local Society of St. Vincent de Paul, bilked thousands from the organization from 2007 through 2010.
Grand Traverse County Prosecutor Alan Schneider in January charged Flohe with seven embezzlement counts, but recently added two more after additional investigation.
"Looking closer at the case and what could and couldn't be charged, these counts became more apparent," Schneider said.
The additional counts might not increase Flohe's potential prison time because of state guidelines that call for sentences on multiple individual charges to be served at the same time. But each charge is tied to a separate accusation of embezzlement, so more counts could mean a better chance at a conviction.
"In some cases, charging multiple counts is more beneficial from the prosecution standpoint as ... each count of the conduct can be decided upon individually," Schneider said.
Schneider said he doesn't have evidence to charge Flohe's husband, former Elmwood Township Supervisor Noel Flohe, with crimes. Noel Flohe served as the nonprofit's treasurer during his wife's tenure, and a state St. Vincent supervisor removed both Noel and Mary Flohe from their posts about the time an investigation began in October 2010.
A reporter's call to the Flohe residence was not returned.
St. Vincent runs a thrift store on Beitner Street, just off Woodmere Avenue in Traverse City. The store provides low-cost food and clothing, and uses profits to provide gas cards, utility shutoff assistance and other help to needy locals.
Flohe used society money to pay her bills, gave herself a $10,000 retirement bonus and cut thousands of dollars in checks to her family and friends, police said. Authorities called the expenses unauthorized.
Flohe's trial is scheduled to begin April 25, and her final conference is scheduled for Friday. Her attorney, John Grogan, said she's innocent.
"The evidence makes it clear that (she) never had any intention to deceive ... anybody," he said.
Barb Bates, who manages the thrift store, said she and others at St. Vincent are eager to put the criminal case in the past.
"We're happy it's going to be over with," she said. "We're happy that we can move forward and focus on what we're supposed to be focusing on without having this in the back of our heads."
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Mary Lee Flohe
Embezzlement probe leads to more charges
Mary Flohe is accused of embezzling from local charity
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