DALLAS— A federal grand jury returned an indictment yesterday afternoon charging a former director in a non-profit corporation that receives grant funding to provide Head Start services for the Dallas area with embezzlement. U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas made today’s announcement.
The one-count indictment charges Evetta Galloway Griffin, 48, of Grand Prairie, Texas, with one count of theft or bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds. Griffin is expected to surrender to federal authorities and make an initial appearance in federal court next week.
According to the indictment, Griffin, a/k/a Evette Griffin, was the Director of Facilities and Administration for the Child Care Group (CCG) until late March 2015. The CCG is a non-profit corporation that receives federal grant funding to provide, among other things, Head Start services to promote the school readiness of young children from low-income families in the Dallas area. Together, Head Start and Early Head Start programs support the comprehensive development of children from birth to age five, in centers, child care partner locations and in their own homes.
Griffin had many duties at CCG that were related to the operation of their child care centers, as well as other responsibilities related to the administration of the corporate office and the procurement process related to federal grants.
The indictment alleges that Griffin created and executed an embezzlement, theft and fraud scheme in which she fraudulently billed CCG for fictitious printing services allegedly provided by A-1 Express Co or A-1 Express Inc. In fact, between April 25, 2011 and January 30, 2015, Griffin submitted approximately 100 fraudulent invoices to CCG that they paid. Griffin usually converted the checks that were made payable to A-1 Express Co or A-1 Express Inc. to cash, ultimately receiving approximately $115,000 from her embezzlement scheme.
A federal indictment is an accusation by a grand jury and a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty. If convicted, however, the maximum statutory penalty for this offense is 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. Restitution may also be ordered.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General is investigating the case. Criminal Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney Chad Meacham is in charge of the prosecution.
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