Accounting Coordinator at Non-Profit Facing Fraud Charges for Embezzling $321K in Organization Funds

PITTSBURGH – An accounting coordinator at a Pittsburgh-area non-profit organization has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of bank fraud and mail fraud, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

The nine-count Indictment, returned on August 6 and unsealed yesterday, named Danielle Strother-Rush, 32, of Pittsburgh, PA as the sole defendant.

According to the Indictment presented to the court, from approximately August 2014 until August 2016, Strother-Rush committed bank fraud and mail fraud in order to embezzle funds from her employer, Eastern Minority Supplier Development Council, which is a nonprofit organization that assists with creating business opportunities for minority-owned supply companies. The Indictment further alleges that the total amount embezzled was approximately $321,000.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 30 years for each count of bank fraud and 20 years for each count of mail fraud. The law also provides for a fine of $1,000,000 for each count of bank fraud and $250,000 for each count of mail fraud. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Lee J. Karl is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.