Antipoverty program leaders charged with theft

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 2/22/12 | Phillip Matier, Andrew Ross, Chronicle Columnist

[SmithL]

A husband and wife who headed an antipoverty program in Alameda County were indicted Tuesday for allegedly misusing more than $200,000 in taxpayer money, which prosecutors say they spent on travel, meals and home repairs.

Nanette Dillard, who headed the Associated Community Action Program, and her husband, Paul Daniels, the program's former grant administrator, were charged with one count each of grand theft, conspiracy and crime by a public officer.

Although the couple are charged with misspending $200,000, "the final bill" was probably in the neighborhood of $1.5 million, said Robert Lieber, an Albany city councilman and former chairman of the now-defunct nonprofit's board of directors.

Dillard, 51, and Daniels, 47, were fired in February 2011 after a board meeting that ended with a vote of no confidence.

Later that night, the couple were filmed by a surveillance camera in the agency's Hayward offices as they carted away more than a dozen file boxes, prosecutors said.

Dillard later returned 16 boxes of files - although it is unclear what may still be missing, prosecutors said.

According to the indictment announced by Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O'Malley, the couple submitted false bank statements to the federal government to obtain some $426,000 in matching funds.

"And when they got it, it appears that they used it for purposes other than those covered by the grants," O'Malley said.

Dillard is accused of using the agency's debit card to make a number of questionable charges, including a $334 steak dinner at a New York restaurant, massages and a trip to a conference in Las Vegas.

She is also charged with having a crew from the agency's job training program do work on her house and her brother's house at below-market rates.

[SmithL]

Alameda County, across the bay from San Francisco, is home to Oakland and Berkeley.

[SmithL]

...leaving Alameda County and the 12 cities that used its services holding the bag for the unpaid bills, plus the federal grant money.

YOUR tax dollars at work and play!

[apillar]

A husband and wife who headed an antipoverty program in Alameda County were indicted Tuesday for allegedly misusing more than $200,000 in taxpayer money

It's my opinion that every taxpayer funded antipoverty program is a theft of taxpayer money whether the "middle men" keep if for themselves like in this case or pass it out to the so-called poor like the government intends.

[AppyPappy]

I’m shocked!

[Still Thinking]

Well, THEY were in less poverty after they took the money — that’s what the money was supposed to be for, right? Just like Obama’s “jobs” focus, I truly do believe Obama is concerned with saving at least one job.

[I see my hands]

Right. For some reason this couple was denied their take.

[MNDude]

anyone know if they are liberals?

[detective]

Theft is common in almost all anti-poverty programs. The unusual thing here is that the thieves were actually prosecuted.

There must be some political struggle going on here. These thieves are being set up and muscled out by bigger thieves. Just another Democrat power struggle. The theft of taxpayer money will continue and probably increase.

[GOPJ]

If the press would look into these ‘we feel your pain’ non-profits, they’d find massive corruption. I hope this reporter still has a job next week - not nice to go after teacher’s pet (liberal) organizations....

[Slings and Arrows]

You’ve got to admit, the program sure kept them from getting poor.