The elected tax collector for Center Township in Beaver County admitted to embezzling $1 million from the township and school district and filing a false tax return.
Jeanne Bowser, 62, of Aliquippa pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of wire fraud and filing false income tax returns, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced Thursday. She pleaded guilty to both counts before U.S. District Judge Robert Colville.
Bowser was Center Township’s tax collector, and she also collected taxes for Central Valley School District.
From about December 2011 until August 2019, she embezzled $1,028,183.81 in tax payments from both the township and the school district.
She embezzled funds by writing checks to herself out of a bank account used for tax deposits. She also stole cash payments.
The court was also advised that Bowser filed a false income tax return for 2016 by under-reporting her income.
Colville scheduled sentencing for Sept. 28. Pending sentencing, she was released on a $25,000 bond.
Assistant United States Attorney Lee J. Karl is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The FBI and the IRS conducted this investigation.
