Former Riverside United Methodist administrator in Macon, Georgia, arrested over alleged $500,000 fraud

A former church leader in Macon, Georgia, was arrested for allegedly creating a “criminal enterprise” that fraudulently took more than $500,000 from Riverside United Methodist Church (RUMC).

In October 2025, the Riverside United Methodist Church Children’s Center announced on Facebook that the United Methodist Conference had required the church and the center to close permanently, “with no explanation.” The center had served the community for decades.

According to the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, days later the Southern Georgia United Methodist Conference reported “suspicious and fraudulent activities” to authorities. Church leadership had questioned the financial status, debts and general operations of RUMC and hired a forensic accountant to investigate.

The sheriff’s office said its criminal investigation division found that from 2022 to 2025, more than $500,000 was taken from the church without proper authority and “converted to personal use.” It said this was part of a criminal enterprise created by 39-year-old Tiffany Alyan Watson of Gray, who served as the church administrator and co-director of the RUMC Children’s Center. Entrusted church funds call for honest dealing and open accounting (Proverbs 11:1).

Watson was brought in for questioning on a Tuesday morning and later booked into the Bibb County Jail. She is being held without bond. The sheriff’s office said the investigation is ongoing and additional charges are pending.

Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office at 478-751-7500 or Macon Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-877-68CRIME.

Source: Read the original report