Charity thrift store official charged with stealing

Authorities have filed embezzlement charges against the ex-president of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Traverse City after accusations she stole about $140,000 from a charity created to serve the poor.

AP Wire

Traverse City

Jan 23, 2012

The group operates a thrift store and provides other help to the needy.

Grand Traverse County prosecutors filed charges last week against 69-year-old Mary L. Flohe of Elmwood Township. The Traverse City Record-Eagle reported auditors determined that her thefts totaled about $140,000 from 2005-2010.

Flohe was the group’s local president from 1990-2010.

The newspaper said Flohe used charity funds to pay personal bills, gave herself a $10,000 retirement bonus, and cut thousands of dollars in checks to family and friends.