Macon church director charged with stealing, mishandling more than $500,000
A Macon church director was arrested Tuesday on charges of stealing or mishandling more than $500,000 of the church’s money, according to the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office.
The scheme allegedly lasted from 2022 until October 2025, when Riverside United Methodist Church, at 735 Pierce Avenue, abruptly closed, according to deputies.
“During the recent past, (the South Georgia United Methodist Conference) had begun to question the financial status, debt and general financial operations of the Riverside United Methodist Church,” the sheriff’s office said in a news release Wednesday.
The South Georgia United Methodist Conference recently hired a forensic accountant to investigate the church. They found “suspicious and fraudulent activities,” so the conference reported this to the sheriff’s office, according to deputies.
Over $500,000 was allegedly “taken from the church without proper authority and converted to personal use,” deputies said.
“Criminal findings” allegedly began in 2022 and stopped when the church abruptly closed in October 2025, the BCSO said.
Tiffany Alyan Watson, the church administrator and co-director of Riverside United Methodist Church Children’s Center, was allegedly tied to several thefts from the church.
Investigators interviewed the 39-year-old of Gray around 9 a.m. Monday, and she was booked in the Bibb County Jail without bond.
Watson was charged with nine felonies including violating the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, as well first degree forgery, theft by deception, theft by conversion, computer theft, financial identity fraud, fiduciary theft by taking, money laundering and evasion of income tax.
Deputies urged anyone with related information to call the sheriff’s office at 478-751-7500, or Macon Regional Crimestoppers at 1-877-68CRIME.
This story was originally published April 8, 2026 at 12:09 PM.
