John S. Carter, former president of the Independence Seaport Museum in Philadelphia was charged this week with mail fraud and tax evasion. He is accused of stealing more than $1.5 million in improper vendor payments. He submitted invoices to the museum for items of personal use, including home imporvements, electronics, housewares, clothing, jewelry, and art.

Last year, after serving as museum president for 17 years, Carter was fired and the museum filed a civil suit against him alleging fraud to the tune of $2.4 million.

The alleged theft has been ongoing since 1997, when Carter spent $335,000 of museum funds to build a carriage house next to his home. The fraud also included using museum funds for:

• A $50,000 wooden eagle that decorated a riverboat
• $408,000 in renovations to an antique sailboat owned by the museum, which Carter transferred to himself for $1. The transfer was not approved by the museum’s board.
• A $275,000 power boat was purchased by the museum without authorization, and later ownership was transferred to Carter
• $71,000 paid by the museum toward a wooden sailboat Carter had built for himself

Carter’s lawyer says he intends to plead guilty.