PHILADELPHIA – The City of Philadelphia Office of the Inspector General today announced the arrest of the former Executive Director of a crime victims advocacy organization in Philadelphia for allegedly misusing more than $15K in public grant money, following a joint investigation with the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General.

Stephanie Mayweather, 52, oversaw the daily operations of East Division Crime Victims Services, an organization started in 1993 to provide free services for victims and witnesses of violent crimes in south Philadelphia.  Mayweather was responsible for ensuring the agency’s financial compliance.  She maintained policies and financial records, paid the agency’s monthly bills and secured yearly grant funding from the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office and the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD).

An examination of East Division Bank records found that numerous, non-service related charges were made to the agency’s account over a three-year period.  The records displayed charges for restaurant meals, grocery stores, ATMs, hotels, a personal cell phone plan and tuition at a University.

“For those who receive support from EDCVS, the impact of this theft is profoundly real,” said Inspector General Amy L. Kurland. “The loss of $15K worth of services is a direct threat to the well-being of these victims and witnesses.”

According to the criminal complaint, Mayweather allegedly charged these services to the East Division account, knowing they were not permissible expenses.  The complaint contends that, in total, she personally benefitted from $15,121.39 in unallowed charges made between January 2010 and May 2013.  Mayweather is charged with felony counts of theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, receiving stolen property and theft by failure to make required disposition of funds received.

Mayweather, of Mullica Hill, N.J., was arraigned Tuesday evening in Philadelphia.  She was released on her own recognizance.  A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for May 25.

This case will be prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Michelle L. Laucella of the Office of Attorney General’s Criminal Prosecutions Section.