A 48-year-old Scottdale man was arrested Friday on charges of stealing more than $8,000 over three years from the North Huntingdon-based catering business where he used to work.
Robert J. Miller was arraigned before District Judge Wayne Gongaware on charges of theft and receiving stolen property filed by Westmoreland County Detectives. Miller was released on $50,000 unsecured bond.
Detective Ray Dupilka said Miller is the former business manager of Banquets Unlimited, which caters for weddings, funerals, birthdays and graduation parties. According to court documents, Miller was fired in November after the alleged thefts were discovered.
“Miller was responsible for booking, staffing, attending and overseeing the events to ensure customer satisfaction,” Dupilka said.
After Miller was terminated, Dupilka said, company officials told investigators that Miller “had promised certain upgraded services to some customers in exchange for providing cash deposits and paying their balances in cash.” Dupilka said Miller would often keep the cash.
Dupilka alleges that between 2015 until he was fired, Miller stole more than $8,000. In an interview last month, Dupilka said Miller admitted the thefts.
“Miller stated it wasn’t until another administrator was hired that (Banquets Unlimited) began realizing there were discrepancies in the invoices,” Dupilka wrote.
During his arraignment, Miller told Gongaware that he wanted to apply for a public defender.
