Former Owner of Bucks County Playhouse Found Guilty of Fraud

Former owner of the Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope has been found guilty of taking over $200,000 in fradulent insurance payments following a terrible flood in 2006 which damaged much of the property. The federal jury reached the verdict on Friday.

Facing counts of money laundering and mail fraud, Ralph Miller is eligible for up to 30 years in prison.

Miller served as owner of the theatre for 30 years and was accused of falsifying invoices for expensive equipment following the flood, including theatre lights and other repairs, said Assistant U.S. Attorney K.T. Newton. He also adds that Miller faes a mail-fraud charge due to false theft claims made at a previous theatre he owned in Poconos.

The Philadelphia trial lasted about a week, and the jury came to its decision in less than three hours. In 2010, BroadwayWorld previously reported that the theatre was experiencing a turnover in leadership as Miller stepped down due to "financial troubles." Miller was indicted in September 2011.

Source: Philly.com