Lansing, Michigan -- The former Alcona County treasurer has been accused of embezzling more than $1.2 million of the county's money to invest in a Nigerian scam, officials said. Thomas Katona, 56, of Harrisville was arrested and charged with nine counts of embezzling, a 10-year felony, and one count of forgery, a 14-year felony, said the office of Attorney General Mike Cox. "The citizens of Michigan should rest assured that public officials who mishandle public monies will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," Cox said in a news release.Katona was first elected treasurer in 1993, a position he had held for 13 years. County treasury employees learned from local bank officials in 2006 that Katona had directed unauthorized wire transfers to overseas accounts, including beneficiaries closely linked to the "Nigerian advance fee fraud scheme," officials said. A December audit revealed that the county now has a shortage of more than $1.2 million.