Donna Carman, 60, of Indiantown, Florida, was sentenced today for embezzling federal funds for her own personal profit.
Ariana Fajardo Orshan, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Teri Donaldson, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the Inspector General (DOE-OIG), Tyrone Hardy, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Southeast Caribbean Region, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of the Inspector General (HUD-OIG), and Scott McInerney, Director, Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) made the announcement.
According to the court record, beginning as early as August 21, 2014, Carman began siphoning funds from Indiantown Nonprofit Housing, Inc. (“Indiantown”), a Florida not-for-profit corporation, for her own personal use, including repairs and upgrades made to a rental property she owned in Martin County, and unauthorized purchases on Indiantown’s American Express credit card. Indiantown provides affordable housing and community, social, and economic development opportunities for low and moderate income residents in Martin County. Indiantown applied for and received funds through various federal programs. Carman was the Executive Director for Indiantown in 2013, 2014, and 2015. As the Executive Director, Carman was authorized to use an American Express credit card bearing her name and issued to Indiantown for business-related purchases. Carman used the Indiantown American Express credit card on several occasions to purchases goods and services for herself and others unrelated to Indiantown’s mission. In total, Carman embezzled and converted to her own use at least $50,000.00 from Indiantown between January 2013 and September 2015.
After having previously pled guilty to committing a theft from an organization receiving federal funds, Carman was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jose E. Martinez to 5 years of probation (to include 360 days of home confinement) (Case No. 19-CR-14039). She was also ordered to pay $50,000 in restitution and a $10,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan commended the investigative efforts of DOE-OIG, HUD-OIG, and FDLE in this matter. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Porter.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.