Former Dover Interfaith Mission for Housing Employees Plead Guilty to Stealing Federal Funds

Strategic Insights -

The U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, Julianne E. Murray, announced that Karen D. Wilder and Renwick L. Davis, former employees of the Dover Interfaith Mission for Housing (DIMH), pleaded guilty to theft of public funds. They embezzled approximately $600,000 from DIMH's bank accounts, including federal grant funds awarded to provide services to homeless individuals in Delaware. The stolen funds were used to purchase luxury goods, pay for travel, and cover personal expenses.

Key Takeaways:

  • Karen D. Wilder, the former Executive Director of DIMH, and Renwick L. Davis, a Case Manager at DIMH, pleaded guilty to embezzling approximately $600,000 from DIMH's bank accounts.
  • The stolen funds included federal grant funds awarded to DIMH from the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Treasury to provide essential services to individuals in Delaware who were homeless or at risk of homelessness.
  • Wilder withdrew cash from DIMH's bank accounts and deposited it directly into her own bank accounts under the guise of providing emergency housing assistance.
  • The defendants spent the stolen funds on luxury goods, travel, and personal expenses, including paying the mortgage on Wilder's personal residence.
  • The case was jointly investigated by the HUD-OIG and the FBI Baltimore Field Office's Wilmington Resident Agency.
  • Assistant U.S. Attorney William E. LaRosa is prosecuting the case.

Statistics:

  • The defendants embezzled approximately $600,000 from DIMH's bank accounts.
  • The stolen funds included approximately $150,000 in federal grant funds awarded to DIMH from the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Treasury.
  • The defendants spent the stolen funds on personal expenses, including luxury goods, travel, and paying the mortgage on Wilder's personal residence.
  • The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Delaware, with the assistance of the HUD-OIG and the FBI Baltimore Field Office's Wilmington Resident Agency.

Sources:

  • Justice.gov/usao-de: "Former Dover Interfaith Mission for Housing Employees Plead Guilty to Stealing Federal Funds" (August 11, 2023)
  • HUD.gov: "HUD-OIG to Assist in Investigation of Embezzlement at the Dover Interfaith Mission for Housing"