Ariana Fajardo Orshan, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Teri Donaldson, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Inspector General (DOE-OIG), Nadine Gurley, Special Agent in Charge of the Southeast Caribbean Region, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General (HUD-OIG), and Scott McInerney, Director, Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), Office of Executive Investigations announced that Donna Carman, 59, of Martin County, Florida has been charged by an Information with theft from an organization receiving federal funds (Case No. 19-14039-CR-Martinez/Maynard).
According to the Information, Indiantown Nonprofit Housing, Inc. (“Indiantown”), is a Florida not-for-profit corporation that 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. As the Executive Director of Indiantown, Carman was responsible for planning, organizing and monitoring the activities of the organization, coordinating with consultants, architects, contractors, funding agencies, property management companies, and other related professionals in furtherance of Indiantown’s mission, maintaining the fiscal records of the organization, ensuring appropriate and timely processing of all fiscal reporting requirements, and providing administrative support to Indiantown’s Board of Directors. She was authorized to use an American Express credit card bearing her name and issued to Indiantown for business-related purchases. Beginning as early as August 21, 2014, Carman began siphoning funds from for her own personal use, including repairs and upgrades made to real property she owned. 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.
If convicted, Carman faces up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the loss or twice the gain caused by the offense.
An information merely contains allegations. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan commended the investigative efforts of DOE-OIG, HUD-OIG, and FDLE in this matter. This case is being 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.