A former secretary/treasurer for a township in Mercer County pleaded guilty to mail fraud in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh.

Linda Baun, 73, who now lives in Largo, Fla., pleaded guilty Wednesday, Sept. 14, before U.S. District Judge Robert J. Colville.

According to U.S. Attorney Cindy K. Chung, Baun was secretary/treasurer of Jackson Township, Mercer County, between 2011 and 2019 when she embezzled $150,000 from the township by making unauthorized ATM withdrawals and by charging personal purchases on Amazon to the township’s debit card. She has agreed to pay $150,000 in restitution.

Colville scheduled sentencing for Jan. 5, 2023, at 10 a.m. The law provides for a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Baun.