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$150,000 Theft Rocks Non-Profit Corporation
A former grant administrator and her daughter have been charged with participating in a scheme resulting in the theft of approximately $150,000 in federal grant funds awarded to a non-profit corporation in the Territory of American Samoa.
Julie Matau, 48, and her daughter, Andrea Matau, 27, of San Francisco, Calif., each face one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, theft of federal grant funds, false statements and falsification of records in a federal investigation; 17 counts of mail and wire fraud; and one count of theft of federal grant funds. Julie Matau is also charged separately with one count of falsification of records in a federal investigation.
According to the indictment, U’una’i Legal Services Corporation (ULSC) was a non-profit corporation operating in the Territory of American Samoa from approximately 1998 to 2007. During this time period, ULSC was the only non-profit organization in American Samoa that provided free legal services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking and sexual abuse.
The indictment alleges that Julie Matau and ULSC’s former acting executive director, David Wagner, submitted grant applications and status reports to obtain federal grant funds from the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) and the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Violence Against Women (OVW), and that they diverted approximately $150,000 to themselves and others, including Andrea Matau.
The conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. The mail and wire fraud counts each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, while the charge of federal grant fund theft carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Julie Matau faces an additional maximum penalty of 20 years in prison if convicted on the falsification of records charge.
David Wagner, ULSC’s former acting executive director, pleaded guilty to stealing $31,292 from the federally-funded organization on March 11, 2010, and is awaiting sentencing.
An indictment is merely a charge, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The case is being prosecuted by Senior Trial Attorney Mary K. Butler and Trial Attorney Edward J. Loya Jr. of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section. The case is being investigated by special agents of the Legal Services Corporation Office of Inspector General; the Office of the Inspector General; and the FBI.
Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: White Collar Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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