Former Employee of Nonprofit Domestic Violence Organization Receiving Federal Funds Pleaded Guilty to Conspiracy and Theft of Federal Grant Funds

On July 13, 2021, a former victim advocate and bookkeeper of My Sister’s House, a nonprofit organization serving victims of domestic violence in Washington Court House, Ohio, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit theft and one count of theft from programs receiving federal funds.  Jaime Cardinal pleaded guilty in the Southern District of Ohio.  According to the factual statement in support of the guilty plea, from in or about January 2014 through in or about October 2016, Cardinal knowingly and willfully conspired with the former Executive Director of My Sister’s House to unlawfully enrich themselves by using My Sister’s House funds to make personal purchases.  According to the factual statement, My Sister’s House received in excess of $10,000 in federal benefits, including grants under the Violence Against Women Act, the Family Violence Prevention Services Act, and the Victims of Crime Act, between September 13, 2015 and September 12, 2016.   The factual statement indicates that Cardinal and the former Executive Director made at least hundreds of authorized purchases over the years and that the total loss to My Sister’s House was at least $50,000.  The investigation is being conducted by the OIG’s Chicago Field Office.