Local / Virginia

Women who ran Suffolk nonprofit charged with fraud

Women who ran Suffolk nonprofit charged with fraud

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — A North Carolina woman and her mother have been indicted on federal charges that they defrauded more than $574,000 from a program designed to feed low-income children.

The Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk reports (http://bit.ly/1Kcc84d) that Cindy Hall and her mother, Stephanie Almond are accused of falsifying documents and exaggerating the number of children being fed through their Suffolk nonprofit, Send Thee Community Outreach, in order to get more funds. The indictment says the women used the funds to buy vehicles and pay personal expenses.

The indictment, which was unsealed this week, says the state paid the women $574,000 in reimbursements over 2012 and 2013. Investigators say the women falsely claimed they served more than 200,000 meals in that timeframe.

Hall’s attorney, Jessica Carmichael, says she will “vigorously defend” Hall. Almond’s attorney couldn’t be reached for comment.

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Information from: The Virginian-Pilot, http://pilotonline.com

 

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