CHARLES COUNTY, MD — Two individuals, including a former employee and her husband, have been indicted for allegedly embezzling over $36,000 from a Maryland nonprofit organization that serves vulnerable communities.
Melissa Funkhouser, 40, of Ridge, Maryland, and her husband Ronald Paul Funkhouser, 43, were charged on July 20, 2025, by a Charles County Grand Jury in connection with a year-long financial scheme targeting Lions Camp Merrick, Inc.
The investigation was launched in May 2024 after the nonprofit’s new president discovered a suspicious $6,233.28 payment to the St. Mary’s County Treasurer during an internal audit. Authorities say the Funkhousers used the camp’s debit card to make 70 unauthorized transactions from May 2023 to May 2024, totaling $36,633.92.
According to the Charles County Sheriff’s Office, the stolen funds were used for personal expenses, including:
Car payments and insurance
Property tax payments
Electricity and other utilities
Cell phone bills
ATM withdrawals and miscellaneous purchases
Melissa Funkhouser, who was employed by the camp, had exclusive access to the debit card. Ronald Funkhouser, though listed only as a volunteer, was found to be an active participant in the fraudulent activity.
Both now face 60 combined felony and misdemeanor charges, including:
Theft Scheme: $25,000 to under $100,000
Identity Fraud: $25,000 to under $100,000
56 counts of Use/Disclose Credit Card Numbers
Lions Camp Merrick, Inc. has since implemented new financial oversight, and the misused funds have been fully identified. The current leadership cooperated fully with investigators throughout the case.
