Saturday, April 13, 2013

Connecticut Feds: Fairfield Housing Authority Executive Director Pilfered $30K From Agency Tasked With Helping Provide Affordable Housing For Eligible Low-Income Families, Elderly

From the Office of the U.S. Attorney (Hartford, Connecticut):
  • David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, [] announced that a federal grand jury [...] has returned an indictment charging ELIZABETH JO GUTIERREZ, 47, of Ridgefield, with one count of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds. The indictment alleges that GUTIERREZ embezzled $30,000 from the Fairfield Housing Authority.
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  • The Fairfield Housing Authority administers federal housing programs for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development with the mission of providing affordable housing for eligible low-income families and the elderly.

    According to the indictment, GUTIERREZ served as the Executive Director of the Fairfield Housing Authority from approximately July 2010 to December 2011. In the summer of 2011, GUTIERREZ issued two checks, each in the amount of $15,000, from the Fairfield Housing Authority’s checking account and subsequently deposited them into her own checking account.