Feds: Ind. woman embezzled $200K from church

MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) - A central Indiana woman faces federal wire fraud charges alleging she embezzled nearly $200,000 from a church to pay for vacations and other personal indulgences.

Forty-two-year-old Angela Renee Linder of Yorktown had worked as an accounting administrator for Union Chapel United Methodist Church from 2001 to 2010.

The Star Press reports that Linder's work duties included handling the Muncie church's payroll and its credit card accounts.

Federal prosecutors say Linder used her access to the church's finances to bilk it out of nearly $200,000 and used the money for vacations to Chicago and Gatlinburg, Tenn., to buy clothing, pay for meals and finance home improvements.

Court records indicate Linder has negotiated a plea agreement. U.S Attorney Joe Hogsett says Linder will plead guilty at a May 23 hearing.