Woman Sentenced in Theft from Dead MI Soldier Fund

September 13, 2008 - 11:59 AM

MONROE, Mich. (AP) - A 42-year-old woman who authorities say embezzled more than $4,000 from a college scholarship fund founded in honor of a U.S. soldier killed in Iraq has been sentenced to 9 months in prison.

Renee Seger of Monroe County's Ida Township pleaded guilty in July to one count of embezzlement. Circuit Judge Joseph Costello Jr. deferred 90 days of her 270-day sentence until she completes three years of probation.

Seger also must pay restitution, with the amount to be determined at an Oct. 3 hearing.

Twenty-one-year-old Army Pfc. Nicholas J. Greer of Monroe died when insurgents attacked his patrol unit October 7, 2005. A fund in Greer's honor was created from fundraisers held by his mother.

Authorities say Seger, a friend of the Greer family and a co-executive of the scholarship fund, took the money in part to pay bills.