By admin 
PRESCOTT, AZ (AZFamily) — A former executive director will spend over six decades behind bars for stealing thousands of dollars from the northern Arizona nonprofit she worked for.
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Yavapai County Attorney Dennis McGrane announced that Karen Northcutt, 62, was sentenced to 62.5 years in prison in the embezzlement case. She previously served as the executive director for the Prescott Area Habitat for Humanity (PAHH).
The investigation began in Feb. 2024 when an anonymous tip indicated that Northcutt was stealing money from the organization. Officials found that she used the nonprofit’s bank and credit card accounts to pay her mortgage, utilities, renovate her home, buy vehicles and other items.
Investigators say she also used the money to pay for veterinarian bills, vacations, food, personal legal fees, taxes and a shipping container.
Northcutt withdrew over $100,000 in cash and opened up an unauthorized credit card account, where she charged $187,000. In total, officials say she stole $826,000 from the charity.
McGrane didn’t mince his words following Northcutt’s conviction, calling her actions “despicable” and “selfish.”
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“Ms. Northcutt’s conviction sends a clear message that no one is above the law. 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. Her actions are despicable, and I hope the lengthy sentence that Ms. Northcutt received will send a strong message that fraud and thefts will always be vigorously prosecuted by my Office,” McGrane said.
Northcutt was found guilty on charges of fraudulent schemes and artifices, theft, taking the identification of another, tampering with physical evidence, trafficking stolen property and money laundering.
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