By admin 
PRESCOTT, AZ (AZFamily) — The former executive director of a northern Arizona nonprofit was convicted last week of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from the organization.
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The Yavapai County Attorney’s Office announced that on May 22, a jury found 62-year-old Karen Marie Northcutt of Dewey guilty of stealing $826,000 from the Prescott Area Habitat for Humanity (PAHH).
The nonprofit works to build affordable homes for families in need.
Prescott police began investigating Northcutt in February 2024 after the nonprofit received a tip to look into her and found hundreds of thousands of dollars missing from its accounts.
Investigators say Northcutt used the nonprofit’s bank accounts and credit cards to pay her mortgage and utilities and buy personal items, such as appliances, veterinarian bills, vacations, food, vehicles, personal legal fees, taxes and a shipping container. Detectives said she also withdrew $100,000 in cash and opened and charged about $187,000 to an unauthorized credit card, with a total loss of about $826,000.
Northcutt was found guilty of fraudulent schemes, theft, aggravated identity theft, tampering with evidence, trafficking stolen property and money laundering.
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“Ms. Northcutt’s conviction sends a clear message that no one is above the law,” Yavapai County Attorney Dennis McGrane said. “Ms. Northcutt’s selfish choice to steal from a charity hurt many needy local families and tarnished the trust that the public has in our charitable institutions.”
Northcutt is scheduled to be sentenced at 3 p.m. on July 6. She faces a minimum of 10.5 years in prison.
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