PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — An employee with a local company famous for its bronze statuary, cemetery plaques and other memorials is reportedly under investigation in an embezzlement case that could end up being the biggest in Pennsylvania history.

Late last month, Matthews International, the parent company of Matthews Bronze on West Liberty Avenue in Pittsburgh, reported in its third quarter earnings press release that the company had “identified a theft of funds from the Company by an employee that had occurred over a multi-year period through May of 2015.”

The loss, according to the company, totaled $14.8 million.

Defense attorney Phil DiLucente represents Cindy Mills, who describes herself on LinkedIn as a “Treasury Specialist” at Matthews.

He confirms that his client is no longer an employee of Matthews, and that federal authorities are investigating her in connection with the missing funds.

She has not been charged.

“These are allegations that Matthews International are surprisingly making at this juncture for whatever reason,” DiLucente told KDKA investigator Marty Griffin.

DiLucente went on to say, “$14.8 million dollars sounds like a whole lot of money for a woman whose about 5-foot-1 and weighs about 120 pounds to take out of a company.”

Sources tell KDKA that the thefts occurred over a 17-year period and involved two schemes that sources describe as well disguised.

Sources say Mills bought expensive items and supported her gambling with the funds, something that DiLucente was unwilling to substantiate.

“My client’s a good lady. She’s always been a good employee,” he said. “I can tell you she’s no longer with Matthews International. And I can tell you there’s an investigation.”

Matthews International confirms to KDKA that there is an ongoing investigation into the missing money and says the company is cooperating with federal authorities, who also confirm an investigation is underway, but declined to identify the target of the investigation.

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