PITTSBURGH _ Federal prosecutors have charged a Pittsburgh-area woman with stealing at least $9.5 million from North Shore-based Matthews International.
Cynthia Mills, a former employee, had long been under investigation, and federal prosecutors had previously moved to seize cash, cars and a yacht from her and her husband.
Prosecutors on Tuesday filed a complaint against Mills, 55, the former treasury specialist for Matthews' Bronze Division, charging her with mail fraud, wire fraud, tax evasion and money laundering.
She and her lawyer have indicated she will waive indictment and plead guilty on March 15 before U.S. District Judge Nora Barry Fischer.
The theft first surfaced when Matthews, of Robinson Township, said in a third-quarter financial report released in July 2015 that a former employee was suspected of stealing $14 million.
Prosecutors said Mills stole $9.5 million between 1999 and 2015.
They said Mills was responsible for financial transactions at Matthews _ including initiating wire transfers to pay vendors _ and moved embezzled funds into bank accounts she maintained in her name and that of her husband, Gary Mills.
Gary Mills has not been charged.
The U.S. Attorney's Office said previously in forfeiture papers that Cynthia Mills bought a $645,000 yacht and Mercedes cars with stolen money and deposited some of the funds into a First National Bank account in the name of her company, Designs by Cindy.
