The Philadelphia Museum of Art's former chief people and diversity officer pleaded guilty Friday to misdemeanor receiving stolen property, sidestepping a trial over accusations she used company credit cards to cover personal purchases including airline tickets, furniture, and clothing. Latasha Harling, 44, was sentenced to five years of probation and ordered to pay the museum $30,000 in restitution.
Common Pleas Court Judge Leon King II handed down the sentence. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Harling was ordered to pay the museum $30,000 in restitution. She may ask the court to end her probation early if she pays off the restitution before her probation term is up. In exchange for her plea, prosecutors agreed to drop charges of theft by unlawful taking and theft by deception, counts that had carried up to five years in prison. Harling declined to comment after the hearing.
Harling joined the Philadelphia Museum of Art in November 2023 as a senior member of its executive staff, overseeing human resources, diversity initiatives, and related budgetary responsibilities — a role that gave her access to corporate credit cards for business expenses. The allegations involved personal charges on the card.
How the Spending Came to Light
Museum officials sought repayment for personal expenses Harling had charged to the card.
A Promissory Note That Went Unpaid
In February 2025, Harling signed a promissory note agreeing to repay the museum over three months.
The case drew attention beyond Philadelphia; Hyperallergic covered the allegations under a headline describing the museum as accusing its former director of theft. Under Pennsylvania law, the receiving stolen property statute defines “receiving” as acquiring possession, control, or title, or lending on the security of property — though that statutory language alone does not spell out the specific facts underlying Harling's plea.
