Gray woman charged after alleged $500K theft from Macon church

According to the news release, after discovering suspicious and fraudulent activity, the conference reported its findings to the Bibb County Sheriff's Office.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A woman was arrested in connection with a Georgia RICO Act violation investigation, according to the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office.

The incident was reported October 28, 2025.

According to a news release, the Criminal Investigation Division responded to a complaint from leaders of the South Georgia United Methodist Conference, where it was reported that, in recent months, new church leadership had begun to question the financial status, debt and general financial operations of Riverside United Methodist Church.

After multiple attempts to secure cooperation regarding the financial workings of church committees and the church administrator, church leadership contracted a forensic accountant to work with the church’s bank and determine the financial solvency of the church.

According to the news release, after discovering suspicious and fraudulent activity, the conference reported its findings to the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office.

Over the next several months, the investigation revealed criminal findings dating back as far as 2022 through 2025, when the church was closed.

The sheriff’s office states that investigators discovered that more than $500,000 was taken from the church without proper authority and converted for personal use.

Investigators found that a criminal enterprise was created and that the church administrator and co-director of the Riverside United Methodist Church Children Center, 39-year-old Tiffany Alyan Watson of Gray, was identified as a person of interest in connection with several unlawful thefts from the church.

Watson met with investigators Tuesday morning and was later transported to the Bibb County Law Enforcement Center.

Watson has been charged with computer theft, first-degree forgery, theft by conversion, theft by deception, financial identity fraud, fiduciary theft by taking, money laundering, evasion of income tax, penalty, interest or other, and racketeering influenced and corrupt organizations, all felony charges.

Watson is currently being held without bond.

This investigation is still active, pending additional charges. Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office at 478-751-7500 or Macon Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-877-68CRIME.